What happens to an ovum once it is released from an ovary?

Once an ovum is released from an ovary during ovulation, it enters the fallopian tubes. This process is crucial for the potential of fertilization to occur. The fallopian tubes serve as a passageway for the ovum to travel toward the uterus, where, if a sperm is present, fertilization may take place.

The ovum is not absorbed by the body or left in the ovary; these scenarios do not occur in the normal physiological process. Instead, the ovum’s journey towards the fallopian tubes is initiated immediately upon its release, emphasizing the importance of this pathway in female reproductive anatomy. The successful transition into the fallopian tubes is essential for the possibility of conception, as this is where sperm can meet the ovum.