What happens if an egg is not fertilized after being released from the ovary?

• A. The egg is reabsorbed into the ovary for future use.
• B. The egg remains in the fallopian tube and continues to mature.
• C. The egg degenerates and is shed from the body during menstruation.
• D. The egg fuses with a sperm cell to form a zygote.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the process of ovulation. During ovulation, an egg is released from the ovary and travels into the fallopian tube, where it awaits fertilization by a sperm cell.
2. Step 2: Recognize the role of fertilization. If the egg is fertilized by a sperm cell, it forms a zygote, which then travels to the uterus for implantation and development into an embryo.
3. Step 3: Consider the scenario where fertilization does not occur. If the egg is not fertilized, it does not form a zygote and cannot proceed to implantation.
4. Step 4: Learn what happens to the unfertilized egg. The egg degenerates and is shed from the body during menstruation, along with the uterine lining that was prepared for potential implantation.
5. Step 5: Clarify misconceptions. The egg is not reabsorbed into the ovary, does not remain in the fallopian tube to mature further, and does not fuse with a sperm cell unless fertilization occurs.