oogonium

[ oh-uh-goh-nee-uhm ]

noun

, Biology.

, plural o·o·go·ni·a [oh-, uh, -, goh, -nee-, uh], o·o·go·ni·ums.

1. one of the undifferentiated germ cells giving rise to oocytes.
2. the one-celled female reproductive organ in certain thallophytes, usually a more or less spherical sac containing one or more eggs.

oogonium

/ ˌəʊəˈɡəʊnɪəm /

noun

1. an immature female germ cell forming oocytes by repeated divisions
2. a female sex organ of some algae and fungi producing female gametes (oospheres)

oogonium

/ ō′ə-gō′nē-əm /

, Plural oogonia

1. A female reproductive structure in certain algae and fungi. It is usually a rounded cell or sac containing one or more oospheres.
2. A cell that arises from a primordial germ cell and differentiates into an oocyte in the ovary of female animals.

Derived Forms

• ooˈgonial, adjective

Other Words From

• oo·goni·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of oogonium¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1865–70; oo-, -gonium

Example Sentences

The contents of the antheridium are not set free, but that organ penetrates the oogonium by means of a narrow outgrowth, the fertilizing tube, and a male nucleus then passes over into the single oosphere, which at first multinucleate becomes uninucleate before fertilization.

From Project Gutenberg

L, M, N, Fertilization of the oogonium and development of the oospore in Peronospora.

From Project Gutenberg

Mycelium present, antheridia with antherozoids, oogonium with single oosphere: Monoblepharidaceae.

From Project Gutenberg

Monoblepharis has oogonia with single oospheres and antheridia developing a few amoeboid uniciliate antherozoids; these creep to the opening of the oogonium and then swim in.

From Project Gutenberg

For example, one sentence on cell division begins, "Meiosis is somewhat more complicated because its purpose is to result in a spermatogonium or oogonium with half the original chromosome number..."

From Time Magazine Archive