HLTH 210 Chapter Notes - Chapter 28.1 and 28.2: Conceptus, Corpus Luteum, Abdominal Wall
23 Jan 2017
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Hundreds of millions of sperm are initially ejaculated, but ultimately only one will be able to fertilize the egg. Vagina is acidic, thick cervical mucous, uterine leukocytes, etc. Sperm reach the oocyte in the ampulla of the uterine tube. Sperm mature through a process known as capacitation, where sperm become more motile and thin the membrane around the acrosome. Cholesterol is depleted in the head membrane so the acrosome is closer to the surface. The corona radiata is an outer later of granulosa cells that surround the ovulated oocyte. The zona pellucida is a transparent glycoprotein membrane that surrounds the eggs plasma membrane. Sperm bind to receptors on the zona pellucida, which trigger the acrosomal reaction. Sperm release acrosomal contents which are able to digest the zona pellucia. A single sperm makes contact with receptors on the eggs plasma membrane, and the sperm and egg membranes fuse.
