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spermatheca

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.03 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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But, the spermatheca is a "last in, first out" structure, thus if any further males inseminate a female, the last mate's sperm is the first in line to fertilise an egg.
Spiders go for violent, but effective sex by Asian News International
In the shallow area, in contrast, two multiparous females that were captured had 7 sperm masses in each spermatheca, presenting differences in color and volume, which would point to the existence of long intervals between matings (Gonzalez-Gurriaran et al.
Timing and seasonality of the terminal molt and mating migration in ... by Freire, Juan / Journal of Shellfish Research
 
 
 
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