acrosome

acrosome
A caplike organelle or saccule derived from the golgi that surrounds the anterior two-thirds of the nucleus of a sperm cell. Within this cap are enzymes that are thought to facilitate entry of the sperm through the zona pellucida. [acro- + G. soma, body]

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ac·ro·some 'ak-rə-.sōm n an anterior prolongation of a spermatozoon that releases egg-penetrating enzymes
ac·ro·so·mal .ak-rə-'sō-məl adj

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n.
the caplike structure on the front end of a spermatozoon. It breaks down just before fertilization (the acrosome reaction), releasing a number of enzymes that assist penetration between the follicle cells that still surround the ovum. Failure of the acrosome reaction is a cause of male infertility (see also andrology).

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ac·ro·some (akґro-sōm) [acro- + -some] the caplike, membrane-bound structure derived from Golgi elements found at the anterior portion of the head of a spermatozoon; it contains lysosomal enzymes and a proteolytic enzyme, which are believed to facilitate entry of spermatozoa into oocytes. Called also acrosomal cap. See also acrosome reaction, under reaction.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • acrosome — [ akrozom ] n. m. • 1904; all. Akrosoma 1898; de acro et some ♦ Biol. Organite situé à l extrémité antérieure des spermatozoïdes. ● acrosome nom masculin Extrémité antérieure différenciée du spermatozoïde. acrosome n. m. BIOL Organite sécrété… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • acrosome — acrosome. См. идиосома. (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.

  • acrosome — [ak′rə sōm΄] n. a thin sac usually at the head of a sperm cell containing enzymes which dissolve the protective layers of an egg cell acrosomal adj …   English World dictionary

  • Acrosome — In spermatozoa (also known as sperm/sperm cell) of many animals, the Acrosome is an organelle that develops over the anterior half of the sperm s head. It is a cap like structure derived from the Golgi apparatus. Acrosome formation is completed… …   Wikipedia

  • Acrosome — L’acrosome est un organite dont la membrane enveloppe partiellement le noyau du spermatozoïde. Celle ci se forme à partir des vésicules golgiennes (appareil de Golgi) lors de la spermiogenèse (passage de la spermatide ronde à la spermatide… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • acrosome — n. the caplike structure on the front end of a spermatozoon. It breaks down just before fertilization (the acrosome reaction), releasing a number of enzymes that assist penetration between the follicle cells that still surround the ovum. Failure… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • acrosome — akrosoma statusas T sritis augalininkystė apibrėžtis Spermio galvutės priekyje esantis lazdelės pavidalo darinys. atitikmenys: angl. acrosome rus. акросома …   Žemės ūkio augalų selekcijos ir sėklininkystės terminų žodynas

  • Acrosome reaction — During fertilization, the acrosome reaction is the reaction which occurs in the acrosome of the sperm as it approaches the egg. The acrosome is a cap like structure over the anterior half of the sperm s head.As the sperm approaches the zona… …   Wikipedia

  • acrosome reaction — a sequence of structural changes seen in spermatozoa in the vicinity of an oocyte in the uterine tube, believed to facilitate their entry into the oocyte: the outer membrane of the acrosome fuses at multiple points with the overlying plasma… …   Medical dictionary

  • acrosome — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: 1899 an anterior prolongation of a spermatozoon that releases egg penetrating enzymes • acrosomal adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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