Continuous Sperm Production Throughout Life Spermatogenesis is the continuous process of sperm production in males, starting just before puberty and lasting throughout life. It consists of three phases: spermatogonia (mitosis), spermatocyte (meiosis), and spermiogenesis (cytodifferentiation). Unlike females who lose oocytes from birth, men can father children into old age due to this ongoing sperm generation.
Phases of Spermaotgenesis with Histological Changes The initial phase involves type A dark and pale spermatogonia located in the basal compartment undergoing mitosis. Type B cells differentiate into primary spermatocytes that move to the ad luminal compartment for meiosis I, producing secondary haploid cells. This transition includes significant histological changes as these cells progress through their development stages.
Meiotic Divisions Yielding Functional Sperm Cells During meiotic divisions, primary spermatocytes undergo meiosis I over several weeks while secondary ones quickly complete meiosis II within hours resulting in four haploid daughter cells called spermatids. These are still connected via cytoplasmic bridges which facilitate synchronized maturation during subsequent differentiation processes leading up to functional spermatozoa formation.
Transformation Into Mature Functioning Sperm In the final stage known as Spermiogenesis, early round-shaped immature gametes transform through distinct phases including Golgi phase where acrosomal vesicles form; cap phase where they spread over nuclei; acrosome phase involving tail orientation towards Sertoli cell membranes; culminating in a maturation stage shedding excess cytoplasm for release into seminiferous tubules but remaining functionally immature until further development occurs post-ejaculation.