Final answer:
The process described is capacitation, which occurs in the female reproductive tract and prepares sperm for fertilization by increasing their motility and altering their membrane to facilitate enzyme release during the acrosomal reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process in which enzymatic secretions from the uterus and oviducts strip the glycoproteins from the sperm membrane required for penetration is known as capacitation. This process occurs in the female reproductive tract and is essential for preparing sperm for fertilization. During capacitation, there is an increase in sperm motility and changes in the sperm's outer membrane occur that improve its ability to release enzymes capable of digesting an oocyte's outer layers. Once the sperm makes contact with the zona pellucida of the oocyte, the acrosomal reaction is triggered. This reaction involves the release of digestive enzymes that allow the sperm to penetrate the thick glycoprotein membrane of the zona pellucida and eventually release its nucleus into the oocyte.