Egg production

*Female Sex cells are called egg cells.

* In the process of meiosis, 4 cells are produced.
* Production of egg cells is called oogenesis
*only 1 is an egg. (also called oocyte)
The other 3 are polar bodies that nourish.
Before Birth:
Oogonia - give rise to oocytes. It multiply by mitosis.
 All of the female's oogonia are created when she's still a
fetus. 1 or 2 months before the baby's birth, most of her
7 million oogonia dies. The surviving oogonia will enter
meiosis, but will stop in prophase I and now are called
primary oocytes.
Puberty to menopause:

Before ovulation, primary oocyte completes meiosis I,

creating a secondary oocyte and a nonviable polar body.
 The secondary oocyte begins meiosis II, but stops at
metaphase II.
 During Ovulation, the secondary oocyte is released from
the ovary.
 The secondary oocyte only completes meiosis II if it is
fertilized by a sperm cell. The completion of meiosis II
forms an oocyte and a second polar body. Fertilization is
complete when the oocyte nucleus and the sperm cell
nucleus unite, creating a zygote.