Final answer:
After ovulation, the secondary oocyte is swept into the fallopian tube where it may be fertilized by sperm. This occurs around the midpoint of the menstrual cycle, and fertilization leads to zygote formation that travels to the uterus for potential implantation. Without fertilization, the secondary oocyte disintegrates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process described involves the egg entering the fallopian tube after a phase known as ovulation. During ovulation, an egg, or more specifically a secondary oocyte, is released from the ovary and enters the adjacent fallopian tube, an event typically occurring around the 14th day of a 28-day menstrual cycle. Fertilization may occur if sperm, which are deposited in the vagina and travel through the cervix and uterus, encounter the egg within the fallopian tube.
After fertilization, the new zygote continues its journey to the uterus where it may implant and develop into an embryo. If fertilization does not occur, the secondary oocyte will eventually disintegrate. The journey of the oocyte through the fallopian tube towards the uterus is facilitated by muscular contractions and the beating of cilia lining the tube, especially in response to high levels of estrogen during ovulation.