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Where does an egg travel after ovulation?
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human reproductive system
Organs and structures of the male and female reproductive systems.
Following ovulation, the released egg is captured by the fallopian tubes, which serve as the passageway to the uterus.1
The process occurs as follows:
- Capture: The infundibulumāthe funnel-shaped, distal end of the fallopian tubeāis fringed with fingerlike projections called fimbriae. During ovulation, these fimbriae contract close to the ovary's surface to guide the egg into the tube.23
- Transport: Once inside, the egg is moved toward the uterine cavity through a combination of rhythmic muscular contractions (peristaltic waves) of the tube's walls and the swaying motions of cilia, which are fine, hairlike structures lining the tube.23
- Fertilization and Arrival: Fertilization typically occurs in the ampulla, an expanded section of the tube. Whether fertilized or not, the egg generally takes three to four days to reach the central channel of the uterus.32