1. Oogenesis is the process of formation of the haploid female gamete, i.e. ovum.
2. The process of oogenesis takes place in the follicular cells inside the ovaries. The germinal epithelium cells undergo oogenesis.
3. They pass through three phases, viz. phase of multiplication, phase of growth and phase of maturation at the time of oogenesis.
- Multiplication phase : Germinal cells undergo mitotic divisions and produce large number of diploid (2n) oogonia. Oogonia are present in the ovaries of female even before she is born.
- Growth phase : During puberty changes, the FSH from pituitary makes one oogonium to develop at a time. The growth takes place as the follicle matures and larger primary oocyte (2n) is produced inside the Graafian follicle.
- Maturation phase : The primary oocyte undergoes first meiotic division. There are equal nuclear divisions during meiosis but the cytoplasm is unequally divided.
4. By the end of first meiotic division, larger haploid secondary oocyte and smaller haploid polar body are produced. Since the embryo develops from the egg, there is provision for more food in the secondary oocyte.
(5) The second meiotic division takes place in the secondary oocyte and polar body. But this division is arrested during metaphase.
(6) The secondary oocyte is released from the ovary in the process of ovulation. Remaining division takes place if and only if ovum is fertilized.
(7) The division is unequal and form functional female gamete or ovum at the time of fertilization.
