Female Reproductive Cycle Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is the process called when an egg is released from the ovary?

Oogonia formation

Oogenesis

Ovogenesis

Ovulation (correct)

What is the term for the initial stage of egg cells before they mature?

Secondary oocyte

Oogonia (correct)

Primary oocyte

Oocyte

At which point during development do oogonia stop dividing?

At birth

At about 7 months of gestation (correct)

At puberty

At fertilization

How many primary oocytes does a female typically have by the time she is born?

1 to 2 million per ovary Signup and view all the answers

What is the chromosomal status of oogonia and primary oocytes?

2n Signup and view all the answers

What hormone is NOT secreted by the ovaries?

Testosterone Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following terms refers specifically to the maturation of eggs?

Oogenesis Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between oogonia and spermatogonia?

They are homologous germ cells in females and males, respectively. Signup and view all the answers

What is the final result of the sperm nucleus fusing with the egg nucleus?

It becomes a zygote. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the oocyte during meiosis 2?

It reduces its chromosome copy number. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs if the egg is not fertilized by a sperm?

It is discharged as a secondary oocyte. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name change that occurs to the egg once fertilization takes place?

From ovum to zygote. Signup and view all the answers

How does the oocyte ensure adequate cytoplasm for the fertilized egg?

By dividing its cytoplasm unevenly during meiosis. Signup and view all the answers

What is a polar body?

A small cell that results from oocyte division. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to primary oocytes during meiotic arrest?

They remain inactive until ovulation occurs. Signup and view all the answers

At what stage does a primary oocyte resume meiosis?

At puberty. Signup and view all the answers

What is the result when a primary oocyte completes the first part of meiosis?

One large secondary oocyte and one small polar body. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a polar body?

It contains a full chromosome set but minimal cytoplasm. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during fertilization of the secondary oocyte?

Meiosis 2 is completed following sperm fusion. Signup and view all the answers

How long do primary oocytes typically remain in meiotic arrest?

12 to 13 years. Signup and view all the answers

What is the fate of most primary oocytes that do not complete meiosis?

They undergo degeneration and die. Signup and view all the answers

What role do the fimbriae play in the female reproductive system?

They help in capturing the ovulated egg. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the general process of meiosis in germ cells?

It reduces the chromosome copy number. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the secondary oocyte after ovulation?

To complete fertilization. Signup and view all the answers

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.