Pronunciation: [ˈə͡ʊvəm] (IPA) 
The term ovum refers to the female reproductive cell. It is pronounced as /ˈəʊvəm/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The spelling of the word is derived from its Latin origin where "ovum" means egg. The "o" in ovum is pronounced like "oh" and the "v" sounds like "vuh". The "u" in ovum is pronounced like "uh" and the "m" is pronounced like "em". While the spelling may seem unusual, it effectively depicts the correct pronunciation of the word.
An ovum, also known as an egg cell or oocyte, is the female reproductive cell or gamete. It is the largest cell in the human body and is produced in the ovaries through a process called oogenesis.
The structure of an ovum is characterized by a spheroidal shape and a distinct nucleus, called the germinal vesicle. It contains a high concentration of cytoplasm, which provides the necessary nutrient reserves for the developing embryo. The ovum is surrounded by a protective layer called the zona pellucida, an outer layer of follicular cells known as the corona radiata, and a mass of granulosa cells that form the cumulus oophorus.
During the menstrual cycle, an ovum is released from the ovary and travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus in a process known as ovulation. If the ovum becomes fertilized by a sperm cell, it can potentially lead to the formation of a zygote, which further develops into an embryo and eventually a fetus.
The ovum plays a crucial role in sexual reproduction as it carries the female genetic material and provides the necessary nutrients for the early stages of embryonic development. It is also the target of various assisted reproductive technologies, such as in-vitro fertilization, where an ovum is fertilized outside the body and then transferred back to the uterus for development.
The egg or female sexual cell, from which, when fecundated by union with the male element, a new individual is developed. It is a simple cell, but its parts have received special names; the protoplasm is called the vitellus or yolk, the ectoplasm is the zona pellucida or zona radiata, and the cell membrane is the vitelline membrane; the nucleus is the germinal vesicle and the nucleolus the germinal spot. In the Ovipara the yolk consists very largely of nutritive material which does not enter into the segmentation process of development but is reserved for the nourishment of the embryo; such an ovum is called meroblastic or lecithal. In the Vivipara, the embryo receives its nourishment through the placenta and the yolk is formative only, containing little or no nutritive material; such an ovum is called holoblastic or alecithal.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
An egg; the part of an animal body where the development of the foetus takes place; in arch., an egg-shaped ornament.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "ovum" comes from Latin, where "ovum" means "egg". It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "awi-", meaning "bird", which also gave rise to the words "aviary" and "avian". The word "ovum" has been used in scientific and biological contexts to refer to the female reproductive cell or egg cell of various organisms.
