Final answer:
The direct answer is D) fertilization, which is not a phase of spermatogenesis. Fertilization is the union of sperm and egg, while spermatogenesis is the multistep process where sperm develop in the seminiferous tubules and mature in the epididymis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is D) fertilization. Fertilization is not a phase of spermatogenesis, but rather the process that follows when a sperm cell and an egg cell unite.
Spermatogenesis is the process by which spermatozoa (sperm cells) are produced from spermatogonial stem cells in a sequential series of steps. These steps include the transformation of primary spermatocytes into secondary spermatocytes, which undergo meiosis to create haploid spermatids. The spermatids then develop into fully mature spermatozoa. The key phases of spermatogenesis include the cap phase, where the acrosome is formed, the Golgi phase, involving the development of the acrosomal and flagellar apparatus, and tail formation when the flagellum is formed. This process occurs within the seminiferous tubules of the testes. Once formed, spermatozoa acquire motility during their maturation in the epididymis. None of these phases involve fertilization; hence, it is not a part of spermatogenesis.