Egg cell
Egg cell or Ovum is the female reproductive cell or gamete in oogamous organisms. The term is used when the distinct stage of oogenesis is entered. In mammals, the egg cell is typically called an ovum.
Overview[edit | edit source]
The egg cell is typically not capable of active movement, and it is much larger (visible to the naked eye) than the motile sperm cells. When egg and sperm fuse, a diploid cell (the zygote) is formed, which rapidly grows into a new organism.
Structure[edit | edit source]
While the sperm cell has a long tail for motility, the egg cell is generally spherical, non-motile and is one of the largest cells in the female body. The egg cell also has a cell membrane and cytoplasm, similar to other cells, and it carries the mother's genetic material.
Function[edit | edit source]
The main function of the egg cell is to fuse with the sperm cell and provide the half of the genetic material needed to create a new individual. It is also responsible for initiating the first cell divisions of the new individual.
Egg Cell Development[edit | edit source]
The development of the egg cell starts in the female body during the fetal stage. This process, known as oogenesis, continues up to the menopause in human females.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Egg cell Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD