Ovum Notes

OVERVIEW OF THE OVUM
 Ova (in plural)

 Egg cell
 the female reproductive cell or gamete
 it is a single cell released from either of the female reproductive organs (the ovaries) which is capable of
developing into a new organism when fertilized with a sperm cell
 the ovum is a round structure that does not move
 it is about 0.15 millimeters in diameter in humans and thus visible to the naked eye
PARTS OF THE OVUM
 Cytoplasm
 known as an ooplasm
 Nucleus
 large and central in humans
 Cortex
 the outer layer of the ovum and contains microvilli
 Microvilli
 help the egg move substances into and out of the ooplasm
 Vitelline membrane / Plasma membrane
 a layer of a thin membrane outside of the ooplasm which is then covered by another layer known
as zona pellucida
 it regulates what substances stay in or are kept out of the ova
 Perivitelline space
 the space between the vitelline membrane and the Zona pellucida
 Corona Radiata
 the final outer layer of the membrane and it is made up of layers of epithelial cells as the ovum exit the
ovarian follicle
 the outer surface of each ovary is covered by a layer of cells (germinal epithelium); these surround the immature
egg cells, which are present in the ovaries from the time of birth
 a hollow ball of cells, the follicle, encompasses each ovum
 within the follicle the ovum gradually matures (oogenesis)
 it takes about 4 months for a follicle to develop once it is activated
 some follicles lie dormant for 40 years before they mature; others degenerate and never develop
 during child-bearing years, 300 to 400 follicles mature and emit eggs capable of being fertilized
 by the time a woman reaches menopause, most remaining follicles have degenerated
Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle

 commonly called ‘period’; also known as ‘menses’
 one part of a woman's cycle when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is shed
 a series of cyclic changes that the uterine endometrium goes through each month as it responds to the waxing
and waning of ovarian hormones in the blood
 these endometrial changes are coordinated with the phases of the ovarian cycle, which are dictated by
gonadotropins released by the anterior pituitary
Days 1–5: Menstrual phase
 in this phase, menstruation or menses, the uterus sheds all but the deepest part of its endometrium
 the thick, hormone-dependent functional layer of the endometrium detaches from the uterine wall, a process
that is accompanied by bleeding for 3–5 days. The detached tissue and blood pass out through the vagina as the
menstrual flow
 by day 5, the growing ovarian follicles start to produce more estrogen
Days 6–14: Proliferative (preovulatory) phase
 Also known as Follicular Phase
 in this phase, the endometrium rebuilds itself
 under the influence of rising blood levels of estrogens, the basal layer of the endometrium generates a new
functional layer
 normally, cervical mucus is thick and sticky, but rising estrogen levels cause it to thin
Ovulation Phase
 is when a mature egg is released from an ovary and moves along a fallopian tube towards your uterus
 takes less than five minutes
 occurs in the ovary at the end of the proliferative stage (day 14) in response to the sudden release of LH from the
anterior pituitary
Days 15–28: Secretory (postovulatory) phase
 also called the Luteal Phase
 14-day phase
 the endometrium prepares for implantation of an embryo
 rising levels of progesterone from the corpus luteum act on the estrogen-primed endometrium, causing the
spiral arteries to elaborate and converting the functional layer to a secretory mucosa. The endometrial glands
enlarge, coil, and begin secreting nutritious glycogen into the uterine cavity
 these nutrients sustain the embryo until it has implanted in the blood-rich endometrial lining
 also called the Luteal Phase
 14-day phase
 the endometrium prepares for implantation of an embryo
 rising levels of progesterone from the corpus luteum act on the estrogen-primed endometrium, causing the
spiral arteries to elaborate and converting the functional layer to a secretory mucosa. The endometrial glands
enlarge, coil, and begin secreting nutritious glycogen into the uterine cavity
 these nutrients sustain the embryo until it has implanted in the blood-rich endometrial lining
 increasing progesterone levels also cause the cervical mucus to become viscous again, forming the cervical plug,
which helps to block entry of sperm and pathogens or other foreign materials, and plays an important role in
keeping the uterus “private” in the event an embryo has begun to implant
 if fertilization has not occurred, the corpus luteum degenerates toward the end of the secretory phase as LH
blood levels decline. Progesterone levels fall, depriving the endometrium of hormonal support, and the spiral
arteries kink and go into spasms
 increasing progesterone levels also cause the cervical mucus to become viscous again, forming the cervical plug,
which helps to block entry of sperm and pathogens or other foreign materials, and plays an important role in
keeping the uterus “private” in the event an embryo has begun to implant
 if fertilization has not occurred, the corpus luteum degenerates toward the end of the secretory phase as LH
blood levels decline. Progesterone levels fall, depriving the endometrium of hormonal support, and the spiral
arteries kink and go into spasms
 denied of oxygen and nutrients, the ischemic endometrial cells die, setting the stage for menstruation to begin
on day 28
 the spiral arteries constrict one final time and then suddenly relax and open wide
 as blood gushes into the weakened capillary beds, they fragment, causing the functional layer to slough off
 the menstrual cycle starts over again on this first day of menstrual flow ovarian cycle.

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OVERVIEW OF THE OVUM

 Ova (in plural)

Uterine (Menstrual) Cycle

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