The cap-like acrosome at the anterior of a human sperm head is important because it contains:
AHyaluronidase that helps it enter the ovum
BMitochondria providing energy for the tail
CCentrioles that connect head and middle piece
DCondensed cytoplasm storing yolk reserves
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Hyaluronidase that helps it enter the ovum
1. The sperm head has a cap-like structure called the acrosome at its front.
2. The acrosome contains the enzyme hyaluronidase.
3. This enzyme helps the sperm enter the ovum during fertilization.
4. Mitochondria for energy and centrioles are in the middle piece/neck, not the acrosome, so they are wrong.
5. The head is mostly condensed nucleus and the sperm carries little cytoplasm, so the yolk-storage option is ruled out.
6. Hence the acrosome's hyaluronidase is the key to ovum penetration, unlike the other parts.
_Source: Samacheer Kalvi (TN SCERT) Class 10 Science, Unit 17 Reproduction in Plants and Animals "Structure of Human Sperm", p.257_
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