Master Oogenesis with Picmonic for Pre-Health

With Picmonic, facts become pictures. We've taken what the science shows - image mnemonics work - but we've boosted the effectiveness by building and associating memorable characters, interesting audio stories, and built-in quizzing.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Recommended Picmonics

Meiosis I

Meiosis II

Oogenesis

"O" Face O-Genie

Picmonic

Oogenesis is the female gametogenesis that results in production of a mature egg. Females have a set number of primary oocytes that are created during the third trimester at birth. Primary oocytes, which are diploid, enter meiosis I once a month (coinciding with the menstrual cycle). The products of meiosis I are one haploid secondary oocyte and one polar body. The polar body is created because the secondary oocyte takes a disproportionate amount of cytoplasm. The polar body does not undergo any additional divisions and gets rid of one haploid set of chromosomes. The secondary oocyte enters meiosis II, but is frozen in metaphase II until fertilization occurs. During ovulation, the egg matures further and is released from the ovarian follicles into the oviduct. If it is fertilized by sperm, it finishes meiosis II and becomes an ootid. In meiosis II, another polar body is produced, analogous to meiosis I. The ootid matures into an ovum, with sperm already fertilizing it. Once the sperm and egg nuclei fuse, a zygote is formed, which is diploid again, and this serves as the starting cell of a human baby.

9 KEY FACTS

Females are born with a set number of primary oocytes at birth. Oocytes are immature eggs, and oogenesis results in the formation of primary oocytes during the fetal period.

Meiosis I only occurs once a month in females. Primary oocytes enter meiosis I as diploid and are reduced to haploid secondary oocytes. Genetic diversification occurs here because of crossing over and independent assortment.

The products of meiosis I are a secondary oocyte and one polar body. The polar body is produced because the secondary oocyte takes a disproportionate amount of cytoplasm. The polar body, subsequently, does not undergo any additional divisions.

Secondary oocytes are frozen in metaphase II (metaphase in meiosis II) until fertilization occurs (if it does occur). If fertilization occurs, an ootid and another polar body are produced.

Ovulation is the phase of the menstrual cycle where a mature egg is released into the oviduct from the ovarian follicles. Afterwards, it is available for fertilization by sperm.

The secondary oocyte requires fertilization in order to finish meiosis II and proceed along the developmental pathway.

Meiosis II finishes upon fertilization by sperm. Once this occurs, the ootid that leaves meiosis II can further develop.

The ootid develops into a mature ovum after meiosis II, which is a haploid female gamete.

The nuclei of the ovum and the penetrating sperm fuse which results in zygote formation. The zygote is now diploid and is the starting cell of the child.

DOWNLOAD PDF