spermatocyte

American  

[spur-mat-uh-sahyt, spur-muh-tuh-] / spɜrˈmæt əˌsaɪt, ˈspɜr mə tə- /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. a male germ cell primary spermatocyte that gives rise by meiosis to a pair of haploid cells secondary spermatocytes that give rise in turn to spermatids.

---

spermatocyte British  

/ ˈspɜːmətəʊˌsaɪt /

noun

1. zoology an immature male germ cell, developed from a spermatogonium, that gives rise, by meiosis, to four spermatids

2. botany a male germ cell that develops into an antherozoid

---

spermatocyte Scientific  

/ spər-măt′ə-sīt′ /

1. A diploid cell that undergoes meiosis to form four spermatids, cells which then develop into sperm.

2. See more at spermatogenesis

---

Other Word Forms

• spermatocytal adjective

Etymology

Origin of spermatocyte

First recorded in 1885–90; spermato- + -cyte

Example Sentences

Figure 34.14 During spermatogenesis, four sperm result from each primary spermatocyte.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

At the end of the first meiotic division, a haploid cell is produced called a secondary spermatocyte.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

One of these cells remains a spermatogonium, and the other becomes a primary spermatocyte, the next stage in the process of spermatogenesis.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Figure 18.14 During spermatogenesis, four sperm result from each primary spermatocyte.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

First spermatocyte, spireme stage, showing the larger and smaller heterochromosome associated with a plasmosome. 65-68.

From Studies in Spermatogenesis Part II by Stevens, Nettie Maria