Fertilisation in mammals and plants

Question 1

pollination

Answer 1

the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma, often from one flower to another

Question 2

external fertilisation

Answer 2

the process of fertilisation in which the female and male gametes are released outside of the parental bodies to meet and fuse in the environment

Question 3

internal fertilisation

Answer 3

the fertilisation of the female gamete by the male gamete, which takes place inside the body of the female

Question 4

mating

Answer 4

the process by which a male animal transfers sperm from his body directly into the body of the female

Question 5

acrosome reaction

Answer 5

the reaction seen when the sperm reach the oocyte and enzymes are released from the acrosome and digest the follicle cells and the zona pellucida

Question 6

polyspermy

Answer 6

the fertilisation of an egg by more than one sperm

Question 7

cortical reaction

Answer 7

the reaction seen when cortical granules in the cytoplasm of the ovum release enzymes into the zona pellucida; these enzymes destroy the sperm-binding sites and also thicken and harden the jelly of the zona pellucida

Question 8

fertilisation membrane

Answer 8

the tough layer that forms around the fertilised ovum to prevent the entry of other sperm

Question 9

conception

Answer 9

the term used for fertilisation of the ovum in humans

Question 10

germinate

Answer 10

(of pollen) the process by which a pollen tube starts to grow out of the pollen grain to transfer the male nuclei into the ovule

Question 11

double fertilisation

Answer 11

the process that occurs in plants in which one male nucleus fuses with the two polar nuclei to form the triploid endosperm nucleus and the other fuses with the egg cell to form the diploid zygote