Sperm production (human)

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Sperm production — a.k.a., spermatogenesis[1] — occurs in men as a continuous process from puberty to old age, involving several portions of the male reproductive system. Spermatozoa (plural of spermatozoon, a single sperm cell) that can fertilize ova and give rise to embryos begin as cells with very different characterstics, undergoing a process of several stages over a period of 74 days before reaching maturity. This article summarizes that process.

spermatogonia

secondary spermatocyte

spermatid

spermatozoa

fully functional spermatozoa

Epididymis

References and notes cited in text as superscripts

  1. spermatogenesis Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 17 Feb. 2009.