| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Spermatogenesis | Process by which testes produce sperm; takes 65-75 days in humans and begins at puberty and ends at death |
| Meiosis | A type of cell division during which the chromosome number is cut in half; 23 rather than 46 |
| Haploid (n) | Half the number of chromosomes |
| Diploid (2n) | Normal number of chromosomes body cells |
| Cell division | When cells in the seminiferous tubules are in various stages of mitosis |
| Spermatogonia | These cells are in direct contact with the basement membrane, which surrounds each of the tubules; have the normal chromosome number 46 (2n); immature cells constantly reproduce by mitosis until puberty; at puberty, spermatogenesis begins in response to testosterone |
| Type A cells | Stays at the basement membrane and continue to divide |
| Type B cells | Move toward the lumen of the tubule and divide to form primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, and spermatids |
| Primary spermatocytes | Go through meiosis I, the first part of meisosis to produce secondary spermatocytes |
| Secondary spermatocytes | Haploid; have 1/2 the # of chromosomes; go through meiosis II to produce spermatids |
| Spermatids | The four hapliod cells that result from meiosis II, prior to development into sperm |
| Spermiogenesis | Process where spermatid becomes a motile sperm cell |
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