Questions:

8b. Discuss the stages that lead to fertilization a human.10marks

9b. Describe the process of fertilization in mammals.10 marks
5.Describe the events that occur during human fertilization until the stage when the sperm
enters the cytoplasm of the egg. 10marks.

SO HOW TO WRITE ESSAYS? REFER THE POINTS FROM PAST YEAR ANSWER SCHEME
BELOW. THIS IS A SAMPLE ESSAY WRITTEN BY ME.

Intro:
The four stages of fertilisation in human (/mammals depends on which question you’re
answering) are capacitation, acrosomal reaction, fusion of sperm head and oocyte membrane, and
lastly cortical reaction.
Body:
During capacitation, sperm matures and contacts the egg’s jelly coat. Acrosomal reaction
occurs when hydrolytic enzyme is released from acrosome and digest the egg’s jelly coat.
This leads to the fusion of sperm head and oocyte membrane where sperm’s nucleus is taken
into cytoplasm. This trigger depolarisation of secondary oocyte to fast block polyspermy.
In cortical reaction, cortical granules release enzymes to harden the zona pellucida. This slow
block polyspermy.

Tips/notes:
Providing two explanation per stages for this kind of essay. Refer answer scheme as of why.

But this doesn’t mean you shall only understand two points per stages. Because in structured
question we cannot guess apa dia tanya. Paham ka?
5. (a) Describe the events that occur during human fertilization until the stage when the sperm
enters the cytoplasm of the egg. [10 marks]

− Fertilization is the fusion of the

male and female gametes
/ sperm and secondary oocyte to
form a zygote

− Sperm which has entered the

female reproductive tract
undergoes maturation
o known as capacitation

− When the sperm’s head penetrates

the corona radiata / granulosa cells
o it will fuse to zona pellucida

− Then the cell surface

membrane of the sperm’s
head will change / ruptures
o The acrosome releases
hydrolytic enzymes to
digest (the
glycoproteins of) the
zona pellucida
o known as acrosomal
reaction

− The sperm’s head will fuse

with plasma membrane of
secondary oocyte
o Then the plasma
membrane of
secondary oocyte will
be depolarized to
prevent further sperm
entry

− Cortical granules then

release enzymes (by
exocytosis)
o to harden the
zona pellucida
o to block other
sperms from
entering (the
plasma
membrane of
secondary)
oocyte//prevent
polyspermy
o known as cortical
reaction

8.(b) Discuss the stages that lead to
fertilization a human. [10 marks]
Capacitation
− Maturation of spermatozoa
// increase sperm motility / structure
− Sperm ready to contact secondary oocyte
− To enable spermatozoa to penetrate
corona radiata / membrane surrounding
the egg
− Sperms contacts the egg’s jelly coat
(Explanation Any 1)
Acrosomal reaction
− Hydrolytic enzymes released from the
acrosome
− Penetrate the jelly coat / zona pellucida
− Membrane protein of sperm binds to
receptor on egg membrane
(Explanation Any 2)
Fusion of sperm head and oocyte
membrane
− Plasma membrane of sperm fuses with
plasma membrane of secondary oocyte
− cause immediate depolarization of
secondary oocyte’s plasma membrane
// refers to fast block to polyspermy
// prevents more than one sperm enter
secondary oocycte
− Sperm’s nucleus is taken into cytoplasm
(Explanation Any 2)
Cortical reaction
− Cortical granule releases its contents /
enzymes
− Harden the zona pellucida
// acts as slow block to polyspermy
− Secondary oocyte completes meiosis II
− Male and female nuclei fuse to form
(diploid) zygote
(Explanation Any 2)
(Explanation depends on correct phases)
9.(b) Describe the process of fertilization in
mammals. [10 marks]
Capacitation
− Maturation of sperm
// increase sperm motility
− Sperm ready to contact secondary oocyte
− To enable spermatozoa to penetrate
corona radiata / membrane surrounding
the egg
− Sperms contacts the egg’s jelly coat
(Explanation Any 1)
Acrosomal reaction
− Release of hydrolytic enzymes from
acrosome
− Digest through the jelly coat / zona
pellucida / corona radiata / wall of
secondary oocyte
− Membrane protein of sperm binds to
receptor on egg membrane
(Explanation Any 1)
Fusion of sperm head membrane and
oocyte
− Plasma membrane of sperm fuses with
plasma membrane of secondary oocyte
− trigger depolarization of secondary
oocyte’s plasma membrane
// refers to fast block to polyspermy
// prevents more than one sperm enter
secondary oocycte
− Sperm’s nucleus is taken into cytoplasm
(Explanation Any 2)
Cortical reaction
− Cortical granules release enzymes
− Harden the zona pellucida layer
// acts as slow block to polyspermy
− Completion of meiosis II (and formation of
polar body)
/ production of ovum
/ female pronucleus develops
/ male pronucleus develops
− Male and female pronuclei / nuclei fuse to
form (diploid) zygote
(Explanation Any 2)