Spermatheca
/ˌspɜːr.məˈθiː.kə/noun
A specialized organ or sac for storing sperm in some animals and insects.
Did you know?Spermatheca was built from ancient Greek roots used for “seed” and “container,” showing how biology often borrows the language of sacred storage and preservation.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GRK
sperma
“seed, sperm, offspring”
Ancient Greek
GRK
thēkē
“a box, case, or receptacle”
Late 19th Century
Neo-Latin
spermatheca
“a receptacle for sperm, especially in female insects and other animals”
Modern English
English
spermatheca
“an anatomical storage sac for sperm”
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