Spermiums

Spermium is a term used in some scientific contexts to denote a male gamete, particularly in older literature or in certain languages. In contemporary English, the standard terms are sperm or spermatozoon (singular) and spermatozoa or sperm cells (plural). The word is encountered most often in historical writings or as a direct loan in non-English texts, rather than as the preferred scientific terminology in recent biology.

Morphology and components commonly described for a mature spermium include a compact nucleus housed in the anterior head, an overlying acrosome that contains enzymes important for fertilization, a midpiece rich in mitochondria to power motility, and a long flagellar tail that drives movement. Size and shape vary across species; in humans, a mature sperm cell is about 50 micrometers long, with a head roughly 5 micrometers wide.

Development and production occur via spermatogenesis in the testes, followed by maturation and storage in the epididymis. In humans, billions of sperm are produced daily, and they acquire motility during epididymal transit before ejaculation. Sperm are delivered to the female gamete during fertilization to deliver paternal DNA.

Function and variation: the primary role of a spermium is to reach and fertilize an oocyte. In many animals, sperm are motile and propelled by their flagellum. In higher plants, including gymnosperms and angiosperms, male gametes are delivered to the ovule via pollen tubes, and the sperm themselves may be non-motile.

See also: spermatozoon, sperm cell, gamete, fertilization.