OOCYTE Meaning and
Definition
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An oocyte refers to the female germ cell or egg cell found in animals. It is a specialized type of cell that plays a crucial role in reproduction. Oocytes are produced within the ovaries of female organisms through the process of oogenesis.
Structurally, an oocyte is a large cell that is surrounded by a protective layer known as the zona pellucida. In mammals, the oocyte typically contains a haploid nucleus, also known as the germinal vesicle, which carries the genetic material of the female.
Oocytes are crucial for sexual reproduction as they have the potential to develop into a mature egg cell that can be fertilized by a sperm cell. Once a mature oocyte is released from the ovary, it travels through the fallopian tube towards the uterus. During this journey, it may encounter a sperm cell, leading to fertilization and the formation of a zygote.
In humans, oocytes are produced during fetal development, but remain in a dormant state until puberty. Each month, a small number of oocytes are selected to undergo maturation and are released during ovulation. The remaining oocytes that are not selected will eventually degenerate over time.
The study of oocytes is of great importance in reproductive biology, fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization, and genetic research aiming to understand the processes underlying embryonic development and inheritance.
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The primitive ovum in the ovary.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for OOCYTE
Etymology of OOCYTE
The word oocyte has its roots in Greek. It comes from the combination of two Greek words: oo meaning egg and cyte meaning cell. Therefore, oocyte literally translates to egg cell.
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