MEDICAL BIOLOGY, HUMAN ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY - Ya.I. Fedoniuk 2010
ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, PATHOLOGY
CHAPTER 9. THE REPRODUCTIVE PROCESS
ANATOMY OF THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
GERM CELLS
2. OVUM (EGG CELL)
The ovum is the female gamete that develops within the female Ovary. It is spherical in shape, non-motile, and measures 130-140 µm in diameter. The ovum consists of a Nucleus, Cytoplasm, and surrounding membranes. The Nucleus contains a haploid set of Chromosomes: 22 autosomes and 1 sex X chromosome.
The process of female germ Cell development is known as oogenesis. Oogenesis comprises three distinct periods: proliferation, growth, and maturation. The proliferation period takes place during embryonic development, whereas the maturation period is completed following ovulation.
Last update: 08/08/2026
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