Q.Explain exflagellation and gametogony in the life cycle of Plasmodium vivax.

[!TLDR] Gametogony is the formation of male and female gametes of Plasmodium; exflagellation is the dramatic release of motile microgametes.

After several erythrocytic cycles, some merozoites develop into sexual forms called gametocytes (micro- and macrogametocytes) — this differentiation is gametogony. In the mosquito's stomach, the microgametocyte undergoes exflagellation, throwing out several motile, flagellum-like microgametes. …

After several rounds of the erythrocytic cycle in the human host, not all merozoites that invade fresh red blood cells go on to undergo further schizogony. Some instead differentiate into distinct sexual forms called gametocytes — this process of differentiation into male and female sexual forms is termed gametogony. Two kinds of gametocyte are produced: a smaller microgametocyte (the male form) and a larger macrogametocyte (the female form). These gametocytes cause no further symptoms in the human host and cannot develop any further there; they can only continue their development if taken up by a mosquito during a blood meal. Once inside the mosquito's stomach, the microgametocyte undergoes a dramatic transformation called exflagellation: its nucleus divides repeatedly, and several slender, motile, flagellum-like microgametes are thrown outward from the surface of the cell. These motile microgametes then actively swim in search of a macrogamete (matured directly from the macrogamet …

• Placing exflagellation in the human host — it happens only in the mosquito's stomach after the blood meal. …