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Results for spermatheca
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Accessory organ opening into the common oviduct in female insects; stores spermatozoa delivered by the male during copulation; the sperm may remain viable for the life of the female.
The spermatheca is an organ of the female reproductive tract in insects, some molluscs, and certain other invertebrates. Its purpose is to receive and store sperm from the male, and it is usually the site of fertilization when the oocytes are ready. Some species have multiple spermathecae. They are lined with epithelium and are variable in shape; some are thin, heavily coiled tubes, others are vague outpocketings from the main reproductive tract.
An apiculturist may examine the spermatheca of a queen bee to find out whether or not it has received sperm from a male.
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 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Spermatheca". Read more |
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