Spermatheca

Spermatheca

The spermatheca (plural spermathecae) is an organ of the female reproductive tract in insects, some mollusks, and certain other invertebrates and vertebrates. [David M. Sever, Cynthia K. Tait, Lowell V. Diller, and Laura Burkholder. 2004. "Ultrastructure of the Annual Cycle of Female Sperm Storage in Spermathecae of the Torrent Salamander" Rhyacotriton variegatus "(Amphibia: Rhyacotritonidae)". JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY 261:1–17] Its purpose is to receive and store sperm from the male, and it is usually the site of fertilization when the oocytes are ready. Some species have multiple spermathecae.Fact|date=October 2008 They are lined with epithelium and are variable in shape; some are thin, heavily coiled tubes, others are vague outpocketings from the main reproductive tract. It is one of the many variations in sexual reproduction.

An apiculturist may examine the spermatheca of a queen bee to find out whether it has received sperm from a male.Fact|date=October 2008

Notes


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  • Spermatheca — Sper ma*the ca, n.; pl. {Spermathec[ae]}. [NL., from Gr. ???? seed + ???? case, or receptacle.] (Zo[ o]l.) A small sac connected with the female reproductive organs of insects and many other invertebrates, serving to receive and retain the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spermatheca — spermatheca. См. сперматека. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • spermatheca — [spʉr΄mə thē′kə] n. [ModL: see SPERM1 & THECA] a small, saclike structure in the female reproductive tract in many invertebrates, esp. insects, for receiving and storing sperm …   English World dictionary

  • Spermatheca — Das Receptaculum seminis (auch Samentasche, Spermathek oder Spermatheca) ist eine Spermavorratstasche und gehört zum Genitalapparat vieler weiblicher oder zwittriger Tiere und dient zum Auffangen und Bewahren von Spermien von Geschlechtspartnern …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • spermatheca — noun Etymology: New Latin Date: 1826 a sac for sperm storage in the female reproductive tract of various lower animals and especially insects …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • spermatheca — n.; pl. ae [Gr. sperma, seed; theke, case] A saccate genital structure in female invertebrates in which sperm from the male is received and may or may not be stored; seminal receptacle; copulatory sac; copulatory pouch; seminal bursa; seminal… …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • spermatheca — /sperr meuh thee keuh/, n., pl. spermathecae / see/. Zool. a small sac or cavity in female or hermaphroditic invertebrates used to store sperm for fertilizing eggs, as in the queen bee. [1820 30; sperma (var. of SPERMATO , SPERMO ) + THECA] * * * …   Universalium

  • spermatheca — noun /ˌspɜːməˈθiːkə/ A small sac within the reproductive tract of some female invertebrates, such as insects, which stores sperm until it is used to fertilize the ova …   Wiktionary

  • spermatheca — A sperm reservoir inside the female oviduct, with an opening to the cuticular organ [Wilson, 1989]. Pouch in oviduct of females for reception and retention of spermatozoa [Moore and McCormick, 1969]. See: seminal receptacle [McLaughlin, 1980].… …   Crustacea glossary

  • spermatheca — [ˌspə:mə θi:kə] noun (plural spermathecae θi:ki:) Zoology a receptacle in many female or hermaphrodite invertebrates in which sperm is stored after mating. Origin C19: from late L. sperma sperm + theca …   English new terms dictionary

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