Difference Between Sperm and Ovum


Sperm and ovum are the gametes produced by vertebrates. More specifically, sperm is the male gamete while the ovum is the female gamete. These two cells also have contrasting size – for instance, the sperm is the smallest cell in the human body while the ovum is the largest. Read on to explore more differences between the two.

Difference Between Ovum and Sperm (Human)

Sperm

Ovum

Definition

Sperm is the male gamete

Ovum is the female gamete

Motility

Motile (flagella)

Non-motile

Size

The smallest cell in the human body

The largest cell in the human body

Mitochondria

Centrally located

Scattered in the cytoplasm

Cytoplasm

Present in very small amounts

Present in large amounts

Nucleoplasm

Absent

Present (called germinal vesicle)

Chromosomes

Contains X or Y chromosomes

Contains only X chromosomes

Centrioles

Present

Absent

Production

Produces in the testes

Produced in the ovary

Segmentation

Segmented into head, neck, middle and tail

No such external segmentation

Formation

One spermatogonium produces four sperms

One oogonium produces only one ovum

Surrounded by

Plasma membrane

Egg envelopes

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