Cell Function
sperm capacitation
[ spurm kuh-pas-i-tey-shun ]
Subclass of:
Fertilization
Definitions related to sperm capacitation:
  • A process required for sperm to reach fertilization competence. Sperm undergo an incompletely understood series of morphological and molecular maturational processes, termed capacitation, involving, among other processes, protein tyrosine phosphorylation and increased intracellular calcium.
    Gene Ontology Dictionary
    Gene Ontology Consortium, 2021
  • Process by which sperm become capable of fertilizing an ovum after reaching the ampullary portion of the fallopian tubes.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • The structural and functional changes by which SPERMATOZOA become capable of oocyte FERTILIZATION. It normally requires exposing the sperm to the female genital tract for a period of time to bring about increased SPERM MOTILITY and the ACROSOME REACTION before fertilization in the FALLOPIAN TUBES can take place.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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