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Questions and Answers
What is the process called when an egg is released from the ovary?
What is the process called when an egg is released from the ovary?
What is the term for the initial stage of egg cells before they mature?
What is the term for the initial stage of egg cells before they mature?
At which point during development do oogonia stop dividing?
At which point during development do oogonia stop dividing?
How many primary oocytes does a female typically have by the time she is born?
How many primary oocytes does a female typically have by the time she is born?
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What is the chromosomal status of oogonia and primary oocytes?
What is the chromosomal status of oogonia and primary oocytes?
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What hormone is NOT secreted by the ovaries?
What hormone is NOT secreted by the ovaries?
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Which of the following terms refers specifically to the maturation of eggs?
Which of the following terms refers specifically to the maturation of eggs?
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What is the relationship between oogonia and spermatogonia?
What is the relationship between oogonia and spermatogonia?
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What is the final result of the sperm nucleus fusing with the egg nucleus?
What is the final result of the sperm nucleus fusing with the egg nucleus?
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What happens to the oocyte during meiosis 2?
What happens to the oocyte during meiosis 2?
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What occurs if the egg is not fertilized by a sperm?
What occurs if the egg is not fertilized by a sperm?
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What is the name change that occurs to the egg once fertilization takes place?
What is the name change that occurs to the egg once fertilization takes place?
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How does the oocyte ensure adequate cytoplasm for the fertilized egg?
How does the oocyte ensure adequate cytoplasm for the fertilized egg?
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What is a polar body?
What is a polar body?
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What happens to primary oocytes during meiotic arrest?
What happens to primary oocytes during meiotic arrest?
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At what stage does a primary oocyte resume meiosis?
At what stage does a primary oocyte resume meiosis?
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What is the result when a primary oocyte completes the first part of meiosis?
What is the result when a primary oocyte completes the first part of meiosis?
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What characterizes a polar body?
What characterizes a polar body?
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What happens during fertilization of the secondary oocyte?
What happens during fertilization of the secondary oocyte?
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How long do primary oocytes typically remain in meiotic arrest?
How long do primary oocytes typically remain in meiotic arrest?
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What is the fate of most primary oocytes that do not complete meiosis?
What is the fate of most primary oocytes that do not complete meiosis?
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What role do the fimbriae play in the female reproductive system?
What role do the fimbriae play in the female reproductive system?
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Which statement best describes the general process of meiosis in germ cells?
Which statement best describes the general process of meiosis in germ cells?
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What is the primary function of the secondary oocyte after ovulation?
What is the primary function of the secondary oocyte after ovulation?
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Study Notes
Female Reproductive Cycle
- The female reproductive cycle involves the maturation of eggs (oocytes) in the ovaries.
- Eggs are formed during gestation, resulting in a baby girl having a supply of eggs at birth.
- This egg formation process is called oogenesis, which begins in utero.
Egg Development
- Oogonia, precursor germ cells, multiply through mitosis during early fetal development.
- By the seventh month of gestation, growth stops, leaving about 2-4 million oogonia for the rest of her life (1-2 million per ovary).
- Oogonia develop into primary oocytes, which are arrested in the first stage of meiosis and remain inactive until puberty.
Meiosis and Oocyte Status
- Primary oocytes are 2n (diploid) and remain in meiotic arrest until puberty, sometimes for 12-13 years.
- Only a few primary oocytes are activated each month during the menstrual cycle; most degenerate.
- Upon activation, primary oocytes complete meiosis I, producing secondary oocytes and polar bodies, which have little cytoplasm.
Ovulation Process
- At ovulation, a mature secondary oocyte is released from the ovary and travels through the uterine tube, awaiting fertilization.
- Fertilization occurs when a sperm cell meets a secondary oocyte in the uterine tube.
Completion of Meiosis
- Meiosis II occurs following fertilization; the secondary oocyte divides into another polar body and an ovum.
- Only the ovum (fertilized egg) is a zygote after the sperm nucleus and egg nucleus fuse.
- If the egg is not fertilized, it is discharged during menstruation as a secondary oocyte.
Key Terminology
- Oocytes: Eggs; primary oocytes are inactive until activated.
- Polar bodies: Non-functional cells produced during meiosis that lack sufficient cytoplasm.
- Zygote: The fertilized egg that results from the fusion of the sperm and ovum.
- Ovum: The mature egg post-fertilization, which undergoes meiosis II.
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Description
Test your understanding of the female reproductive cycle, focusing on the maturation of eggs and the processes of oogenesis and oogonia development. This quiz covers the stages involved in egg formation and growth during gestation.
