The perivitelline space is the space between the
zona pellucida The ''zona pellucida'' (Latin meaning "transparent zone") is the specialized area surrounding mammalian oocytes (eggs). It is also known as an egg coat. The ''zona pellucida'' is essential for oocyte growth and fertilization.
The ''zona pelluc ...
and the
cell membrane
The cell membrane (also known as the plasma membrane or cytoplasmic membrane, and historically referred to as the plasmalemma) is a biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of a cell from the outside environment (the extr ...
of an
oocyte or fertilized
ovum.
In the
slow block to polyspermy, the
cortical granules released from the ovum are deposited in the perivitelline space.
Polysaccharide
Polysaccharides (), or polycarbohydrates, are the most abundant carbohydrates found in food. They are long-chain polymeric carbohydrates composed of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic linkages. This carbohydrate can react with wat ...
s released in the granules cause the space to swell, pushing the zona pellucida further from the oocyte.
The
hydrolytic enzymes released by the granules cause the
zona reaction, which removes the
ZP3 ligands from the zona pellucida.
Clinical importance
Clinically, the perivitelline space is relevant because it is where the
polar body lodges after meiosis.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perivitelline Space
Mammal female reproductive system
Germ cell structures
Cloning