Question

Name the three main regions of the sperm and briefly mention the function of each.

Answer 1

The head of the sperm contains the nucleus. The nucleus holds the DNAof the cell. The head also contains enzymes that help the sperm break through the cell membrane of an egg.

The midpiece of the sperm is packed with mitochondria. Mitochondria are organelles in cells that produce energy. Sperm use the energy in the midpiece to move.

The tail of the sperm moves like a propeller, around and around. This tail is a long flagella that pushes the sperm forward. A sperm can travel about 30 inches per hour. This may not sound very fast, but don’t forget how small a sperm is. For its size, a sperm moves about as fast as you do when you walk briskly.