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spermatheca
(redirected from Spermathecae)

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
sper·ma·the·ca  (spûrm-thk)
n. pl. -cae (-s)
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.

[Late Latin sperma, semen; see sperm1 + theca.]

sperma·thecal adj.

spermatheca [ˌspɜːməˈθiːkə]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) a sac or cavity within the body of many female invertebrates, esp insects, used for storing spermatozoa before fertilization takes place
[see sperm1, theca]
spermathecal  adj

spermatheca  (spûrm-thk)
Plural spermathecae (spûrm-ths)
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.


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The researchers analysed the females of the species and found that their spermathecae are atrophied, or shrunken, in comparison to other spiders.
In an analysis of the spermathecae of primiparous females, it was found that practically no mating activity occurred in shallow waters, whereas the first copulations took place in the migration corridor.
 
 
 
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