Dictionary > Ovocyte

Ovocyte

Definition
noun, plural: ovocytes
(1) A female gametocyte.
(2) A developing female germ cell or gamete.
Supplement
An ovocyte is an immature female sex cell. It starts off as an oogonium by the process of oocytogenesis, and matures to give rise to a fully mature ovum or egg cell and ootid (by ootidogenesis).
Word origin: From Latin ovum (egg) + New Latin cyta from Ancient Greek kutos (vessel, jar).
Variant: oocyte, ocyte
Compare: spermatocyte
See also: meiosis, ootidogenesis, oocytogenesis

Last updated on July 23rd, 2021

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