HUMAN REPRODUCTION

Assignment 2

Name: Bahian, Sonsy Jane P. BS PSYCHOLOGY- 2

Murillo, Deirdre Angelique Submitted: Sept 6, 2023

STRUCTURE OF AN OVUM

● Ovum – mature female gamete that develops from the primitive germ
cells embedded in the cortex of the ovaries.
● Each of the primitive germ cells gives rise to a small number of cells called
oogonia.
● Oogonia developed in the primary oocyte
● The ova or eggs of animals can give rise to a completely new individual
within a very short span of day or week
● Ovum – remarkable cell in animals
● The ovum of an animal is spherical about 0.2 mm in diameter
● They are found enclosed in the follicles of the ovary
● A single ovum is present in a follicle
● The cytoplasm of an ovum is called ooplasm
● Nucleus is called the germinal vesicle
● Nucleolus is called the germinal spot
● The thick transparent envelope covering the ovum is called Zoona
striata/Zona pellucida
● Several layers of cells derived from the follicle adhering to the outer
surface are called Corona radiata
YOLK OR OOPLASM

● · Exoplasm/Egg Cortex
● · Endoplasm/Ooplasm
● · Yolk/ooplasm is composed of:
○ o Formative yolk – cytoplasm of an ordinary animal cell
○ o Nutritive yolk – contains numerous grounded granules of
fatty and proteinaceous substances embedded in the
cytoplasm
■ § The human Ovum has very little of this nutritive yolk
which nourishes the embryo very early in its
development
● · The human ovum is microlecithal

o Microlecithal is used to describe small eggs with little yolk

GERMINAL VESICLE

The nucleus is called the germinal vesicle

● Large and spherical

● Initially occupies a central position
● But as the ovum grows it becomes eccentric in position
● The human egg has polarity

● The structure of the nucleus of the ovum is the same as that of an ordinary
cell and is enclosed in the nuclear envelope

● Within the nucleus is a well-defined nucleolus known as the germinal spot

COVERINGS OF THE OVUM

● Zona pellucida – thick covering and covers the ovum for some time after
fertilization

o This layer may save as protection during the early stages of

segmentation

● The corona radiata is composed of two or three layers of cells derived

from the follicles
○ These cells are on the outer surface of the zone pellucid when the
ovum is released from the follicle.
○ The cells of the corona radiata are arranged gradually around the
zona pellucida and the innermost cells of this layer are columnar in
shape.

STRUCTURE OF A SPERM CELL

● The term sperm refers to the male reproductive cell and is derived from
the Greek word sperma meaning seed.
● A motile unicellular sperm cell is referred to as a spermatozoon, while a
non-motile sperm cell is known as a spermatocyte.
● The structure of a sperm cell can be divided into four regions: head, neck,
middle piece, and tail.
● The sperm head is oval in shape and allows the sperm to penetrate the
egg
○ The head contains a large nucleus with necessary genetic
information and enzymes
● The acrosome covers about two-thirds of the sperm head.
○ It contains the enzymes hyaluronidase and protease.
○ These enzymes help in the penetration of sperm into the ovum.
○ The acrosome is formed from the Golgi apparatus.
○ It is bound by an inner acrosomal membrane that faces the nucleus
and an outer acrosomal membrane.
○ The outer acrosomal membrane is in close contact with the ovum.
○ The acrosome corresponds functionally to a lysosome and releases
the enzymes that dissolve the coats of the oocyte.
● The neck region is a short region seen immediately after the head.
● The connecting piece carries a proximal centriole that initiates the division
of zygotes and a distal centriole that gives rise to the axial tail.
● The middle piece is formed when the mitochondria of a sperm cell align
as a helix around the first part of the ta
○ The middle piece supplies energy to the sperm.
● It is surrounded by a thin cytoplasmic sheath called Manchac.
● The sperm cell has two central filaments surrounded by nine outer
filaments.
● The fletcher lating tail enables the sperm cell to reach the egg and fertilize
it.
 Gametogenesis ( Production of sperm and egg)

Gametogenesis- is the production of sperm and egg and these are called
gametes

Spermatogenesis- production of sperm

gametes occur in the testes in which normal
meiosis happens is called spermatogenesis
(normal meiosis)
● Spermatogenesis sperm producing cells
in the testes grow and become primary
spermatocytes.
● They are diploid cells in which they carry
46 chromosomes. The primary
spermatocytes undergo meiosis one.
● This first miotic division produces 2
haploid secondary spermatocytes.These
two haploid secondary spermatocytes
carry 23 chromosomes each.
● The two secondary spermatocytes
proceed to meiosis. Two and four haploid
spermatids are produced. These four
haploid spermatids carry 23
chromosomes each. Each spermatid
becomes a mature sperm after
differentiation.

Oogenesis- production of egg or ovum

occurs in the ovaries in which a unique
meiosis happens is called oogenesis
(unique process).
● It is the process of forming the
egg or ovum, and it begins in the
fetus before birth. Females are
born with the eggs in the primary
oocyte stage.
● Primary oocytes are arrested in
the prophase stage of meiosis
one. Until the female reaches
sexual maturity, Primary oocyte
grow in size during this arrested
 phase but do not divide, at puberty the primary oocyte completes meiosis
one and forms the secondary oocyte in the first polar body.

● The secondary oocyte receives 23 unpaired chromosomes and the first

polar body receives the other 23 unpaired chromosomes.
● The first polar body is visibly smaller in size than, the secondary oocyte
proceeds into meiosis 2 after fertilization and produces one large ovum in
another polar body.
● At this stage, the first polar body may decide to form two small polar
bodies. The three polar bodies only serve to collect the chromosomes as
waste. They will eventually die and disintegrate. Only the larger cell or ovum
can sustain life after fertilization.
● The secondary oocyte is released from the ovary at fertilization. After
fertilization meiosis 2 is completed.

Comparing spermatogenesis and Oogenesis

● Spermatogenesis is located in the males testis. Oogenesis is located in the

females ovary spermatogenesis number of gametes produced pur life long.
● It is produced in millions
● oogenesis number of gametes produced our fixed amount only 400 mature
eggs Spermatogenesis creates 4 gametes per germ cell.
● Oogenesis creates 1 gametes per germ cell.
● Spermatogenesis begins at puberty
● Oogenesis begins during fetal development.
● Spermatogenesis forms gametes or sperm cells continuously at anytime
● Oogenesis forms gametes or excels only once a month during the
menstrual cycle.
● Fertility in spermatogenesis is lifelong, but is reduced fertility in oogenesis
stops at menopause.
● Spermatogenesis releases gametes anytime, especially during ejaculation
and oogenesis releases gametes once a month.
● Mitotic divisions in spermatogenesis are uninterrupted. Miotic divisions in
oogenesis are arrested during meiosis one prepubescent and arrested
again during metaphase 2 before fertilization.
● Spermatogenesis germline epithelium is involved in gamete production.
Oogenesis germline epithelium is not involved in gamete production.

Comparing the egg and sperm

● The ovum oogenesis is much larger than the sperms in spermatogenesis

● Motility- the sperm swims using its flagellum
● The egg is swept by celia where food reserves
● Protein and fat are stored in the egg
● Sperm has stored sugar for swimming
● Egg and sperms are both haploid cells, which means they have 23 unpaired
chromosomes.
● In spermatogenesis Sperms are produced in millions after puberty, but
constantly reduced with age.
● In oogenesis 1, ovum matures per month from puberty until menopause.