Spermatin
(Sper"ma*tin) n. (Physiol. Chem.) A substance allied to alkali albumin and to mucin, present
in semen, to which it is said to impart the mucilaginous character.
Spermatism
(Sper"ma*tism) n. (Physiol.) The emission of sperm, or semen.
Spermatium
(||Sper*ma"ti*um) n.; pl. Spermatia [NL.] (Bot.) One of the motionless spermatozoids in
the conceptacles of certain fungi. J. H. Balfour.
Spermatize
(Sper"ma*tize) v. i. [Gr. . See Sperm.] To yield seed; to emit seed, or sperm. [Obs.] Sir
T. Browne.
Spermato-
(Sper"ma*to- Sper"mo-) . Combining forms from Gr. spe`rma, -atos, seed, sperm, semen
(of plants or animals); as, spermatoblast, spermoblast.
Spermatoblast
(Sper"ma*to*blast) n. Same as Spermoblast.
Spermatocyte
(Sper"ma*to*cyte) n. [Spermato- + Gr. a hollow vessel.] (Physiol.) Same as Spermoblast.
Spermatogemma
(Sper`ma*to*gem"ma) n. [NL. See Spermato-, and Gemma.] (Physiol.) Same as
Spermosphere.
Spermatogenesis
(Sper`ma*to*gen"e*sis) n. [Spermato- + genesis.] (Biol.) The development of the
spermatozoids.
Spermatogenetic
(Sper`ma*to*ge*net"ic) a. (Physiol.) Relating to, or connected with, spermatogenesis; as,
spermatogenetic function.
Spermatogenous
(Sper`ma*tog"e*nous) a. [Spermato- + -genous.] (Physiol.) Sperm- producing.
Spermatogonium
(||Sper`ma*to*go"ni*um) n. [NL., fr. Gr. sperm + offspring.] (Physiol.) A primitive
seminal cell, occuring in masses in the seminal tubules. It divides into a mass (spermosphere) of small
cells which in turn give rise to spermatozoids.
Spermatoid
(Sper"ma*toid) a. [Spermato- + -oid.] (Physiol.) Spermlike; resembling sperm, or semen.
Spermatoön
(||Sper`ma*to"ön) n.; pl. Spermatoa [NL., fr. Gr. spe`rma, -atos, seed + an egg.] (Anat.)
A spermoblast. — Sper`ma*to"al a. Owen.
Spermatophore
(Sper"ma*to*phore) n. [Spermato- + Gr. to bear.]
1. (Physiol.) Same as Spermospore.
2. (Zoöl.) A capsule or pocket inclosing a number of spermatozoa. They are present in many annelids,
brachiopods, mollusks, and crustaceans. In cephalopods the structure of the capsule is very complex.
Spermatophorous
(Sper`ma*toph"o*rous) a. (Physiol.) Producing seed, or sperm; seminiferous; as, the
so-called spermatophorous cells.
Spermatorrhea
(Sper`ma*tor*rhe"a, Sper`ma*tor*rhœ"a), , n. [NL., fr. Gr. spe`rma, - atos, seed + to
flow.] (Med.) Abnormally frequent involuntary emission of the semen without copulation.
Spermatospore
(Sper"ma*to*spore) n. Same as Spermospore.
Spermatozoid
(Sper`ma*to*zo"id) n. [Spermatozoön + Gr. form.] (Biol.) The male germ cell in animals
and plants, the essential element in fertilization; a microscopic animalcule-like particle, usually provided
with one or more cilia by which it is capable of active motion. In animals, the familiar type is that of a
