The male reproductive system produces sperm that are manufactured
in the seminiferous tubules within each testicle. The head of the
sperm contains the DNA that, when combined with the egg's DNA, will
create a new individual. The tip of the sperm head is called the
acrosome, which enables the sperm to penetrate the egg. The
midpiece contains the mitochondria that supply the energy the tail
needs to move. The tail moves with whip-like movements back and
forth to propel the sperm towards the egg. Sperm have to reach the
uterus and the fallopian tube in order to fertilize a woman's egg.
Review Date: 03/10/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
