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[Greek] An antherozoid; a free-swimming male gamete (bot.).

The male generative cell, consisting of a head or nucleus and a flagellum or tail.

Syn.: sperm cell, spermatic cell. The fertilizing element of the semen; the male reproductive cell. In man and most of the higher animals s.'s appear in shape and action like minute tadpoles. The head represents the nucleus of the cell, and a delicate layer of protoplasm enveloping the head,, together with the tail, represents the cell body. In some cases there is seen a thickening in the tail at its junction with the head, and also in some cases the tail and middle piece are bordered by a kind of frill. [Gr.]