False-colour scanning electron micrograph of fertilization of a sea urchin egg showing the sperm head penetrating the female ovum. In fertilisation,only a single sperm may successfully penetrate the ovum to fuse with the female nucleus. Barriers to be overcome include layers of follicular cells surrounding the ovum (corona radiata) and an underlying glycoprotein membrane,the zona pellucida. The membrane is digested by enzymes released from the acrosome,a cap on the head of the sperm: subsequent rapid chemical changes in the zona pellucida prevent competing sperm from entering | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Fawcett, Don / Anderson, E. |
Bildgröße: | 3508 px × 5307 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: |
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