The ovum, or egg cell, is the female reproductive cell that is released from the ovaries. It is about 0.15 mm in diameter and consists of cytoplasm, a nucleus, cortex, microvilli, membranes, and outer layers. During a woman's reproductive years, 300-400 follicles will mature and release eggs. The uterine cycle involves changes in the endometrium in response to hormones. It consists of the menstrual, proliferative, ovulation, and secretory phases over approximately 28 days. During ovulation, a mature egg is released from an ovary. The secretory phase prepares the endometrium for potential embryo implantation through progesterone and estrogen effects.
The ovum, or egg cell, is the female reproductive cell that is released from the ovaries. It is about 0.15 mm in diameter and consists of cytoplasm, a nucleus, cortex, microvilli, membranes, and outer layers. During a woman's reproductive years, 300-400 follicles will mature and release eggs. The uterine cycle involves changes in the endometrium in response to hormones. It consists of the menstrual, proliferative, ovulation, and secretory phases over approximately 28 days. During ovulation, a mature egg is released from an ovary. The secretory phase prepares the endometrium for potential embryo implantation through progesterone and estrogen effects.
The ovum, or egg cell, is the female reproductive cell that is released from the ovaries. It is about 0.15 mm in diameter and consists of cytoplasm, a nucleus, cortex, microvilli, membranes, and outer layers. During a woman's reproductive years, 300-400 follicles will mature and release eggs. The uterine cycle involves changes in the endometrium in response to hormones. It consists of the menstrual, proliferative, ovulation, and secretory phases over approximately 28 days. During ovulation, a mature egg is released from an ovary. The secretory phase prepares the endometrium for potential embryo implantation through progesterone and estrogen effects.
The ovum, or egg cell, is the female reproductive cell that is released from the ovaries. It is about 0.15 mm in diameter and consists of cytoplasm, a nucleus, cortex, microvilli, membranes, and outer layers. During a woman's reproductive years, 300-400 follicles will mature and release eggs. The uterine cycle involves changes in the endometrium in response to hormones. It consists of the menstrual, proliferative, ovulation, and secretory phases over approximately 28 days. During ovulation, a mature egg is released from an ovary. The secretory phase prepares the endometrium for potential embryo implantation through progesterone and estrogen effects.
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
Download as docx, pdf, or txt
You are on page 1of 2
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 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 Days 15–28: Secretory (postovulatory) phase 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.