Question

When does the sperm induce changes in the ovum during the process of fertilization?

Answer 1

Structure of sperm:

1. It is made up of a head, neck, middle section, and tail.
2. The entire sperm body is encased in a plasma membrane.
3. The sperm head comprises an extended haploid nucleus with an acrosome-like structure covering the anterior region.
4. The acrosome contains enzymes that aid in the fertilization of the ovum.

Fertilization:

1. It is the process of a sperm and an ovum fusing together.
2. When sperm comes into contact with the ovum's zona pellucida layer during fertilization, it causes modifications in the membrane that prevent other sperms from entering.
3. It ensures that an ovum can only be fertilized by one sperm.
4. The acrosome's secretions aid sperm entry into the ovum's cytoplasm via the zona pellucida and the plasma membrane.