Oocyte
| Oocyte | |
|---|---|
| Identifiers | |
| MeSH | D009865 |
| FMA | 18644 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
An oocyte (/ˈoʊəsaɪt/, oöcyte, or ovocyte) is a female gametocyte or germ cell involved in reproduction. In other words, it is an immature ovum, or egg cell. An oocyte is produced in a female fetus in the ovary during female gametogenesis. The female germ cells produce a primordial germ cell (PGC), which then undergoes mitosis, forming oogonia. During oogenesis, the oogonia become primary oocytes. An oocyte is a form of genetic material that can be collected for cryoconservation.