SPERMOTHECA Meaning and
Definition
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A spermotheca is a specialized organ found in certain insects, primarily in species of ants, bees, and wasps. It is a storage structure within the female reproductive system that serves as a receptacle for storing and protecting viable sperm for an extended duration. The term "spermotheca" comes from the combination of the Greek words "sperma," meaning seed, and "thēkē," which refers to a container or receptacle.
In species where the spermotheca is present, the female mates with a male who transfers his sperm into the organ. The spermotheca is designed to maintain the sperm in a dormant state until the female is ready to fertilize her eggs. This mechanism ensures that fertilization can occur even months or years after mating, increasing the chances of successful reproduction.
The structure and size of the spermotheca vary among species, from tubular or sac-like in ants and bees to more complex and convoluted in some wasps. Additionally, the spermotheca can exhibit different levels of resilience against environmental factors, ensuring the long-term viability and motility of stored sperm.
Overall, the spermotheca is a vital reproductive adaptation in certain insect species, allowing females to store and utilize sperm efficiently, enhancing their reproductive success and population survival.
Common Misspellings for SPERMOTHECA
- apermotheca
- zpermotheca
- xpermotheca
- dpermotheca
- epermotheca
- wpermotheca
- soermotheca
- slermotheca
- s-ermotheca
- s0ermotheca
- spwrmotheca
- spsrmotheca
- spdrmotheca
- sprrmotheca
- sp4rmotheca
- sp3rmotheca
- speemotheca
- spedmotheca
- spefmotheca
- spetmotheca
Etymology of SPERMOTHECA
The word "spermotheca" is derived from two Greek roots: "sperma" (σπέρμα), meaning "seed", and "thēkē" (θήκη), meaning "case" or "container". In Latin, the combination of these roots gives rise to the term "spermotheca", which refers to the specialized organ in certain insects, such as bees and ants, where they store and house their collected sperm.
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