Sperm is the male reproductive
cell and is derived from the Greek word (σπέρμα)
sperma (meaning "seed"). In the types of
sexual reproduction known as
anisogamy and its subtype
oogamy, there is a marked difference in the size of the
gametes with the smaller one being termed the "male" or sperm cell. A uniflagellar sperm cell that is
motile is referred to as a
spermatozoon, whereas a non-motile sperm cell is referred to as a
spermatium. Sperm cells cannot divide and have a limited life span, but after fusion with
egg cells during fertilization, a new organism begins developing, starting as a
totipotent zygote. The
human sperm cell is
haploid, so that its 23 chromosomes can join the 23 chromosomes of the female egg to form a
diploid cell.
In mammals, sperm develops in the
testicles and is released from the
penis. It is also possible to extract sperm through
TESE. Some
sperm banks hold up to of sperm.