fertilisation

Question 1

what are two things that help sperm move into the fallopian tubes?

Answer 1

swimming movements (tail) and muscular contractions of the uterus wall

Question 2

where does fertilisation take place?

Answer 2

fallopian tubes / oviducts

Question 3

what’s the reaction/changes that a sperm must undergo to be able to fertilise?

Answer 3

capacitation

Question 4

what occurs during capacitation of sperm?

Answer 4

makes the sperm more active and thins the membrane covering the front of the head of sperm (removes cholesterol and glycoproteins) - more fluid

Question 5

what’s the reaction when sperm binds to zona pellucida?

Answer 5

acrosome reaction

Question 6

what occurs during the acrosome reaction?

Answer 6

the acrosome breaks open and hydrolytic enzymes are released, a pathway is digested through the zona pellucida

Question 7

upon the binding of a sperm, the egg rapidly undergoes what?

Answer 7

oocyte activation

Question 8

what does oocyte activation mean?

Answer 8

completion of the second meiotic division with release of the second polar body and formation of the ovum (female gamete), the cortical reaction

Question 9

what does the cortical reaction mean?

Answer 9

exocytosis of cortical granules, which diffuse into the zona pellucida from the egg - alter the structure of the zona pellucida (forms a fertilisation membrane which prevents entry of further sperm)