spermatocyte

[ spur-mat-uh-sahyt, spur-muh-tuh- ]

noun

, Cell Biology.

1. a male germ cell primary spermatocyte that gives rise by meiosis to a pair of haploid cells secondary spermatocytes that give rise in turn to spermatids.

spermatocyte

/ ˈspɜːmətəʊˌsaɪt /

noun

1. zoology an immature male germ cell, developed from a spermatogonium, that gives rise, by meiosis, to four spermatids
2. botany a male germ cell that develops into an antherozoid

spermatocyte

/ spər-măt′ə-sīt′ /

1. A diploid cell that undergoes meiosis to form four spermatids, cells which then develop into sperm.
2. See more at spermatogenesis

Other Words From

• sperma·to·cytal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spermatocyte¹

First recorded in 1885–90; spermato- + -cyte

Example Sentences

As a consequence of axis separation, the sister chromatids of spermatocyte sex chromosomes are farther apart than are those of other chromosomes.

From Nature

In each primary spermatocyte the pairing of the chromosomes already alluded to occurs as indicated in Fig. 9b, p.

From Project Gutenberg

First spermatocyte, daughter plates containing 18 and 19 chromosomes, respectively.

From Project Gutenberg

Figure 223 is the equatorial plate of the first maturation division of the winter egg, showing the same form and size relations of the chromosomes as in the spermatocyte divisions.

From Project Gutenberg

The primary spermatocyte arises by growth of one of the last generation of spermatogonia.

From Project Gutenberg