acrosome

ac·ro·some

 (ăk′rə-sōm′)

n.

A caplike structure at the anterior end of a spermatozoon that produces enzymes aiding in egg penetration.

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[acro- + -some.]

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ac′ro·so′mal (-sō′məl) adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

acrosome

(ˈækrəˌsəʊm)

n

(Physiology) a cap-like structure on the tip of a spermatozoon that releases enzymes on encountering the ovum allowing fusion with the ovum in the sexual reproductive process; this part of the process is known as the acrosome reaction

[C19: from acro- + -some³]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ac•ro•some

(ˈæk rəˌsoʊm)

n.

an organelle covering the head of animal sperm and containing enzymes that digest the egg cell coating, thus permitting the sperm to enter the egg.

[1895–1900; < German Akrosoma; see acro-, -some³]

ac`ro•so′mal, adj.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

acrosome - a process at the anterior end of a sperm cell that produces enzymes to facilitate penetration of the egg sperm, sperm cell, spermatozoan, spermatozoon - the male reproductive cell; the male gamete; "a sperm is mostly a nucleus surrounded by little other cellular material" appendage, outgrowth, process - a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; "a bony process"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.