Final answer:
Acrosomal enzymes digest a path through the zona pellucida during the acrosome reaction, allowing sperm to reach and fertilize the oocyte.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acrosomal enzymes released during the acrosome reaction digest a path through the zona pellucida as the sperm, using its tail, advances through this coating. The acrosomal reaction is initiated when the sperm makes contact with the zona pellucida, causing the sperm to secrete digestive enzymes that break down the glycoprotein membrane of the zona pellucida, allowing the sperm to reach the oocyte. After the sperm penetrates the corona radiata, the enzymes from the acrosome clear a path through the zona pellucida to enable a single sperm to make contact and fuse with the plasma membrane of the oocyte, leading to fertilization.