Why are the mitochondria arranged around the filament of a sperm cell?

Answer 1

Egg cells, or ova, are complete cells and have mitochondria. Spern cells are mobile packets of DNA, running on glucose and have no internal structure or organelles.

A tightly-packed helical mitochondrial sheath surrounds part of the sperm tail. This is strange, however, because the sperm cell does not appear to produce energy by oxidative phosphorylation. Oxidative phosphorylation occurs in mitochondria. The sperm appears to produce all of its energy needs by glycolysis, which does not need mitochondria.

Sperm do not contribute very many mitochondria to the egg upon fertilization. So most people get their mitochondria from their mothers.

Answer 2

One thing that a sperm needs to do is swim, and to have an ambulatory ability requires energy use, and if your going to utilize energy then you need mitochondria - they're just how the animal world does it. And they don't have very many at all; less than a dozen.

Answer 3

The mitochondria are arranged in the filament because there is not enough space to house the mitochondria in the head. The tail is much too small, and the vigorous movements of the tail could possibly damage the mitochondria, should it be housed in the tail.

Answer 4

the male sperm cell has three main parts, the head, the body(filament) and the tail. the mitochondria is arranged in the filament because there is not enough space to house the mitochondria in the head( which is already filled with genetic material) . the tail is much to small, and the vigourous movements of the tail could possibly damge the mitochondria, should it be housed in the tail.

Answer 5

Sperm have mitochondria to provide the energy needed for motility. The energy lets the sperm swim towards the egg.