Final answer:
Ectopic pregnancies occur when the zygote implants outside the normal location of the uterus, commonly in the uterine tube (tubal pregnancy), and less frequently in the abdomen, ovary, or cervix.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ectopic pregnancies result when the zygote implants in locations outside the uterus, which are not suitable for fetal development. The primary sites of ectopic implantation include the uterine tube, which is the most common location and is referred to as a tubal pregnancy. Other less common sites for ectopic implantation are the abdomen, the ovary, or the cervix. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in the uterine tube, but implantation can also occur on any well-vascularized structure within the abdominal cavity, such as Douglas' pouch, the mesentery of the intestines, and the greater omentum. In rare cases, an embryo can re-implant in the abdomen following a tubal pregnancy.