Page 50 - The Cell in 40 Topics

The Cell in 40 Topics

cious, this excessively expanded organ now needs to be returned to its for-
mer size for the health of the body. The lysosome enzymes help carry out
this process. When the birth process is finished, certain cell lysosomes are
alerted and, since they have an excellent knowledge of their jobs, they im-
mediately begin secreting the necessary enzymes, which rapidly shrink the
womb to 1/40th of its former size in ten days following the birth. The

womb thus begins to revert to its former dimensions (Figure 38).
There are also lysosome enzymes in the head portion of sperm cells.
Sperms use these enzymes to degrade—and thus, to pierce—the micro-
scopic protective sheath surrounding the egg, and allow the sperm to enter
in and achieve fertilization.
As can clearly be seen from these examples, every mechanism in your

Figure 38.
The lysosome enzyme reduces the size
of the womb by 1/40 in 10 days after
birth, helping it to begin returning to its
normal size.

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