FERTILIZATION- JUST LIKE GRADE 9

...WITH A LOT MORE SUBSTANCE

11.4.9 The process including the acrosome
reaction, penetration of the egg membrane by a
sperm and the cortical reaction
EGG CELLS OVUM
Women born with
approximately 3 million
by puberty, this is
reduced to 400 000
Will usually only release
400 in a lifetime
Certain eggs are chosen
only the best of the
best- allows for best
combination of genes,
but only one will fully
develop
EGG CELLS- CONTINUED
Eggs mature in a follicle
(a fluid filled sack)
This is caused by the
release of the chemical
FSH follicle-stimulating
hormone
The reaction produces
estrogen the main sex
hormone in women
As estrogen levels rise,
this triggers the release of
an egg cell when it has
matured where it goes into
the fallopian tube
SPERM CELLS THEIR JOURNEY
After ejaculation, fewer than
100 000 make their way
through the cervix originally,
there are approximately 100-
300 million found in 5ml of
semen
Because of the dangerous and
very acidic nature of the
vagina, many sperm are
unable to survive the
conditions. This allows for the
best possible genetic
information to be passed onto
the future offspring as only the
strongest are able to survive
providing advantages to future
offspring
THE JOURNEY - CONTINUED
Within 10 minutes,
some of the sperm
have entered the
uterus to continue
their destination the
fallopian tubes.
Others may continue
to pool at the cervix
which may enter later
or within 72 hours
While this is
happening, the egg
cell is being propelled
down the fallopian
tube it will there
meet up with the
sperm inside of the
tube where the sperm
will swim up from the
uterus
FERTILIZATION PROCESS
1. Many sperm are needed in order
for the process to happen
2. Sperm push their way through
surrounding follicle cells in order to
reach zona pellucida membrane to
the egg cell (There they bind to the
surface)
3. The first sperm to reach the zona
uses enzymes found in the acrosome
(head) of the sperm to penetrate the
outermost layer of the egg (or jelly
coat) allowing for the sperm to reach
receptor sites on the egg membrane
4. The fusion of the sperm cell
membranes and the egg cell
membranes occurs
5. This results in the cortical
reaction
6. The haploid nucleus of the sperm
enters the egg and restores the
diploid number of chromosomes (in
h 46) thi i ll d
CORTICAL REACTION
As the gametes fuse
their plasma
membranes, cortical
granules fuse with
oocyte membrane. This
releases enzymes which
cause a chemical change
in the zona pellucida
making it impermiable
to other sperm cells.
(This occurs within
seconds of fertilization)
WORKS CITED
"Healthy Sperm: Improving Your Fertility."
MayoClinic.com. 6 Dec. 2010. Web. 3 May 2011.
<www.mayoclinic.com/health/fertility/MC00023>.
"Sperm Impacts: Environmental Factors,
Lifestyle, and Medications Affect Male Fertility."
Medical News Today: Health News. Web. 03 May
2011.
<http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/3226
1.php>.
Ward, William, and Alan Damon. Pearson
Baccalaureate: Higher Level (plus Standard Level
Options) : Biology Developed Specifically for the
Ib Diploma. Harlow, [England: Pearson
Education, 2007. Print.