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For conception to take place, a mature egg cell, or ovum, must be at the right place at the right time. Conception takes place when a sperm penetrates the egg cell and fertilizes it, and the two cells combine to form a new life.
Let's take a quick look at some of a woman's key reproductive organs and see how they function during menstruation and ovulation, two processes that are critical in preparing her for conception.
Here are the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina.
You can see a cut-away view of one of the ovaries on the right. The purple structures inside the ovary are immature egg cells, or oocytes. All of the 400,000 egg cells a woman will ever produce are already present in her ovaries when she is born, although the eggs are in an undeveloped form.
The average age that girls begin to menstruate is 12 years old. Each menstrual cycle occurs approximately every twenty-eight days. During each cycle, hormonal messages from the brain cause the ovaries to develop a single mature egg cell for potential fertilization, even as other hormones instruct the uterine lining to thicken in preparation for nourishing the fertilized egg cell.
As you may know, hormones are chemicals released into the blood stream by organs or glands. In general, their job is to regulate body functions by either stimulating or inhibiting other cells or organs. The ovaries are just one of the many organs in the body regulated by hormones.
The cycle starts when a follicle grows within one of the ovaries. A follicle is composed of the developing egg cell and the support cells that surround and nourish it.
Throughout the first portion of the cycle, a small structure in the brain, the pituitary, releases hormones, mostly FSH. This causes follicles to begin growing.
One of the follicles becomes dominant and releases estrogen, a hormone that prepares the lining of the uterus to receive a fertilized egg cell. Meanwhile, the estrogen in the blood stream causes the brain to release a surge of LH. In response to the LH surge, the follicle enlarges rapidly. About 24 to 36 hours after the LH surge, the follicle ruptures and releases the egg cell in a process known as ovulation.
The ruptured follicle begins secreting the hormone progesterone, which also helps to prepare the uterine lining for a fertilized egg cell.
The large structure on the right is the entrance to the fallopian tube. The smaller, waving structures at its opening are called fimbriae. They're moving a lot because it's their job to sweep the egg cell into the fallopian tube's entrance and toward the uterus.
Once the egg cell is within the fallopian tube, one of two things will happen to it: it will either be fertilized by a sperm cell, or fertilization will fail to take place.
If the egg cell is NOT fertilized within 12 to 24 hours after its release from the ovary, it will stop developing and will dissolve before reaching the uterus.
The absence of a fertilized egg cell gradually causes a woman's body to stop releasing the hormones that would otherwise prepare the uterus for the developing egg cell. In response, the uterus sheds its lining. Menstruation signifies the start of the next menstrual cycle and lasts from 2 to 7 days.
If the egg cell DOES become fertilized by a sperm, it will be transported by tiny hair-like cells called cilia to the uterus. There, it lodges in the uterine wall in a process called implantation, and receives nourishment from the uterine lining.
Meanwhile, back in the ovary, the remaining cells of the ruptured follicle produce progesterone so that the uterine lining will stay rich in blood vessels, and the fertilized egg cell will survive.
As you can see, the hormones, which control the reproductive system, maintain a delicate balance over the life cycle of the egg cell.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 09/16/2008
Dan Sacks MD, FACOG, Obstetrics & Gynecology in Private Practice, West Palm Beach, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Egg cell production, also known as oogenesis, is the process by which female germ cells divide and mature into eggs. Oogenesis involves several stages including mitotic division, meiosis, and maturation to form a fully developed egg cell. This process occurs in the ovaries and is essential for sexual reproduction in female organisms.
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What is the benefit of uneven production of gametes in oogensis?
Uneven production of gametes in oogenesis results in the formation of one large egg cell and several smaller polar bodies. The larger egg cell contains most of the cytoplasm and organelles necessary for supporting early embryonic development, while the smaller polar bodies degenerate. This ensures that the developing embryo receives ample nutrients and cellular machinery from the egg cell.
How could the maturation of an egg cell be halted in the ovary?
The halt in egg cell maturation in the ovary can occur if the initial stages of meiosis are arrested. This can happen due to hormonal imbalances, genetic factors, or environmental influences. Without the proper signals or conditions, the egg cell will not progress through its normal development stages.
What does an egg contribute to the embryo that a sperm cell does not?
An egg contributes the majority of the genetic material needed for the embryo to develop, including the mitochondria for energy production. In contrast, a sperm cell provides only half of the genetic material necessary for embryo formation.
The difference between sperm production and egg production?
Sperm production, or spermatogenesis, occurs in the testes of males and involves the formation of haploid sperm cells. Egg production, or oogenesis, takes place in the ovaries of females and results in the formation of haploid egg cells. Sperm production is a continuous process, while egg production occurs periodically and typically produces one egg per menstrual cycle.
Where does the developing fertilized egg cell get its energy from?
The developing fertilized egg cell gets its energy from the nutrients stored in the egg itself. These nutrients are derived from the mother and are present in the form of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. As the embryo grows and develops, it will start to rely on its own energy production mechanisms.
What is the production growth and maturation of an egg or ovum called?
The production growth and maturation of an egg or ovum is called oogenesis. This process involves the development of an egg cell from a primordial germ cell through a series of cell divisions and maturation stages within the ovaries.
What is the benefit of uneven production of gametes in oogensis?
Uneven production of gametes in oogenesis results in the formation of one large egg cell and several smaller polar bodies. The larger egg cell contains most of the cytoplasm and organelles necessary for supporting early embryonic development, while the smaller polar bodies degenerate. This ensures that the developing embryo receives ample nutrients and cellular machinery from the egg cell.
How would you describe the production of an ovum?
The production of an ovum, or egg cell, is called oogenesis and occurs in the ovaries of females. It involves a series of cell divisions and maturation processes that result in the development of a mature egg cell capable of being fertilized by a sperm cell. Ovulation is the release of a mature ovum from the ovary into the fallopian tube, where it can potentially be fertilized.
Is a gamete an egg cell or fertilized egg?
An egg cell is a gamete, and so is a sperm cell.
What does egg cell mean?
A fertilized egg cell is when a sperm enters an egg. The result is a fertilized egg cell, or a zygote.
What is smallest egg cell?
The smallest egg cell is that of a fruit fly. It measures around 0.12mm in length.
What is a fertilized female egg cell called?
A fertilized egg cell is when a sperm enters an egg. The result is a fertilized egg cell, or a zygote.
How do fertility enhance the opportunity for fertilization of an egg?
Fertility increases the production of eggs, and if the fertility in a woman is higher, than there is a higher chance of an egg getting hit by a sperm cell, as there will be more of them.
How could the maturation of an egg cell be halted in the ovary?
The halt in egg cell maturation in the ovary can occur if the initial stages of meiosis are arrested. This can happen due to hormonal imbalances, genetic factors, or environmental influences. Without the proper signals or conditions, the egg cell will not progress through its normal development stages.
Do egg cells contain organelles?
Yes, egg cells contain various organelles, including mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus. These organelles play critical roles in supporting the cellular activities of the egg cell, such as energy production, protein synthesis, and cell signaling.
What is the production of eggs is called?
Oogenesis is the process of producing an ovum (egg cell). Egg production begins and ends before birth. There is a series of processes that take place during the production of an ovum... for more detailed information on the entire process, take a look at this article. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oogenesis
What does an egg contribute to the embryo that a sperm cell does not?
An egg contributes the majority of the genetic material needed for the embryo to develop, including the mitochondria for energy production. In contrast, a sperm cell provides only half of the genetic material necessary for embryo formation.
