FB2026_03 , released September 17, 2026
CV Term Report
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General Information
Term spermatheca ID (Ontology) FBbt:00004921 (Fly Anatomy)
Definition Mushroom-shaped organ consisting of a capsule surrounded by secretory cells, connected to the dorsal side of the uterus by a slender duct, which protrudes into the capsule to form an introvert (Heifetz and Rivlin, 2010; Mayhew and Merritt, 2013; McQueen et al., 2022). The capsule is lined by a sclerotized cuticular intima (Mayhew and Merritt, 2013), which is produced by the secretory cells (Miller, 1950; McQueen et al., 2022). Each secretory cell wraps around a specialized cuticle-like structure called an end-apparatus, which is connected to the intima by a duct (Mayhew and Merritt, 2013). Sperm is stored in this organ after mating; it stores fewer sperm that the seminal recepticle, but retains them for a longer period of time (Heifetz and Rivlin, 2010; McQueen et al., 2022). There are two spermathecae per female (Heifetz and Rivlin, 2010; Mayhew and Merritt, 2013; McQueen et al., 2022).[ FlyBase:FBrf0007735 FlyBase:FBrf0210152 FlyBase:FBrf0222595 FlyBase:FBrf0253444 ]
Also Known As"spermathecum"
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Direct annotations: records annotated with this exact term (child terms are NOT included)
Data ClassFieldDirect annotations
Alleles (FBal)PHENOTYPE_MANIFEST_IN
Insertions (FBti)EXPRESSION_STAGE_TISSUE_POSITION
Insertions (FBti)PHENOTYPE_MANIFEST_IN
Constructs (FBtp)PHENOTYPE_MANIFEST_IN
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Relevant FlyBase reports
 Alleles Genes Images Insertions Constructs
 spermatheca (all annotations which use CV term, excluding "NOT" statements)
     spermatheca | ectopic
      --       --       --       --
     spermatheca | heat sensitive
      --       --       --       --
     spermatheca | increased number
      --       --
     spermatheca | somatic clone
      --       --
      --
     spermatheca | temperature conditional
      --       --       --       --
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Vocabulary search 
female reproductive system
 |__female reproductive gland______
 |__sperm storage organ____________|
epithelium                         |
 |__epithelial tube________________|
female-specific anatomical entity  |
 |__female reproductive gland______|
 |__sperm storage organ____________|
multicellular structure            |
 |__sperm storage organ____________|
gland                              |
 |__female reproductive gland______|
                                   spermatheca  156 rec.
                                    |__spermathecal duct 16 rec.
                                    |   |__spermathecal duct longitudinal muscle cell
                                    |__spermathecal secretory epithelium
                                        |__spermathecal secretory cell
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Is a epithelial tube
female reproductive gland
sperm storage organ
Develops from presumptive spermatheca
Part of
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UBERON:0000994