Flow-induced buckling dynamics of sperm flagella

The swimming sperm of many external fertilizing marine organisms face complex fluid flows during their search for egg cells. Aided by chemotaxis, relatively weak flows are known to enhance sperm-egg fertilization rates through hydrodynamic guidance. However, strong flows have the potential to mechanically inhibit flagellar motility through elastohydrodynamic interactions---a phenomenon that remains poorly understood. Here we explore the effects...