Morphological characterization of abnormal human spermatozoa using transmission electron microscopy.

A morphological analysis of ejaculated human abnormal spermatozoa is presented. Eighteen different malformations are characterized, based on (a) the cell's organelle where they appeared, (b) the possible developmental stage when they occurred, and (c) the possible mechanism responsible for a specific appearance. The forces that govern the shaping of the spermatozoan head are described in detail. The possible mechanism responsible for chromatin subcondensation, acrosome malformation, kinked tail forms, and mitochondrial malformations are discussed.