spermatheca

[ spur-muh-thee-kuh ]

noun

, Zoology.

, plural sper·ma·the·cae [spur-m, uh, -, thee, -see].

1. a small sac or cavity in female or hermaphroditic invertebrates used to store sperm for fertilizing eggs, as in the queen bee.

spermatheca

/ ˌspɜːməˈθiːkə /

noun

1. a sac or cavity within the body of many female invertebrates, esp insects, used for storing spermatozoa before fertilization takes place

spermatheca

/ spûr′mə-thē′kə /

, Plural spermathecae spûr′mə-thē′sē

1. A receptacle in the reproductive tracts of certain female invertebrates, especially insects, in which spermatozoa are received and stored until needed to fertilize the ova.

Derived Forms

• ˌspermaˈthecal, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spermatheca¹

1820–30; sperma- (variant of spermato-, spermo- ) + theca

Word History and Origins

Origin of spermatheca¹

C19: see sperm ¹, theca

Example Sentences

Under normal circumstances, having sperm that can migrate quickly up the reproductive tract is advantageous for males who compete with other males for the best spot for their sperm inside the spermatheca.

From The Verge

"We don't yet know what allows sperm to migrate beyond the spermatheca," Cutter said, referencing the female organ where fertilization takes place.

From The Verge

Mosquitoes mate just once in their lifetime, and the female stores the male’s sperm in an organ called a spermatheca.

From New York Times

The queen mates with as many as 20 drones in a single flight and stores millions of their sperm in an internal pouch called a spermatheca—sufficient supplies for a lifetime of egg-laying.

From Scientific American

The median vagina, spermatheca and ejaculatory duct are, on the other hand, formed by ectodermal inpushings.

From Project Gutenberg