Definition

A cap-like part at the front of a sperm cell that helps it to break into an egg by releasing special enzymes.

Example

The acrosome contains enzymes that help the sperm penetrate the egg's outer layer.

Conversation

I was reading about how the acrosome helps sperm penetrate the egg.

That's interesting! I didn't know it had such an important role.

Yeah, it's like a little cap that releases enzymes for that purpose.

Science is so fascinating, especially when you learn about these tiny structures!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Acrosome is formed from "acro-" (from Greek "akron", meaning tip or extremity) and "soma" (from Greek "soma", meaning body). The word refers to a structure at the tip of a sperm cell, which is crucial for fertilization, hence the meaning related to the tip of the body of the sperm.

Memory Tip

Imagine the 'tip' ('acro-') of a 'body' ('soma') — the acrosome is the tip of the sperm's body that plays a vital role in fertilization.

Visually Confused Words