<P> During fertilization , a sperm must first fuse with the plasma membrane and then penetrate the female egg in order to fertilize it . Fusing to the egg usually causes little problem , whereas penetrating through the egg 's hard shell or extracellular matrix can present more of a problem to the sperm . Therefore , sperm cells go through a process known as the acrosome reaction which is the reaction that occurs in the acrosome of the sperm as it approaches the egg . The acrosome is a cap - like structure over the anterior half of the sperm 's head . </P>
<P> During fertilization , a sperm must first fuse with the plasma membrane and then penetrate the female egg in order to fertilize it . Fusing to the egg usually causes little problem , whereas penetrating through the egg 's hard shell or extracellular matrix can present more of a problem to the sperm . Therefore , sperm cells go through a process known as the acrosome reaction which is the reaction that occurs in the acrosome of the sperm as it approaches the egg . The acrosome is a cap - like structure over the anterior half of the sperm 's head . </P>
when does the acrosome reaction occur in sperm
when does the acrosome reaction occur in sperm
as it approaches the egg
as it approaches the egg