Definition of ovum in English:
ovum
nounPlural ova ˈəʊvəmˈoʊvəm
Biology A mature female reproductive cell, especially of a human or other animal, which can divide to give rise to an embryo usually only after fertilization by a male cell.
the ovum contributes one chromosome of each pair to the fertilized cell
Example sentencesExamples
- An ovum (plural ova) is a mature egg released at ovulation.
- As in most other animals, the sperm mitochondria penetrate the cell membrane of the ovum at fertilization.
- The ovaries perform both an exocrine function by producing ova and an endocrine function by producing estrogen and progesterone.
- There are a few exceptions to this pattern, most famously in seahorses where females have an ovipositor which places unfertilized ova into the male's pouch for insemination.
- When a human sperm fertilizes a human ovum, a single cell is created with the potential to grow into a human person.
Origin
Early 18th century: from Latin, literally 'egg'.