It contains mucous glands, the ducts of which may become obstructed giving rise to Nabothian cysts. Its mucous secretions become very viscous at the time of ovulation. It becomes soft due to the breakdown of collagen just prior to childbirth. All steps in meiotic division of developing sperm are completed in the testis. The first meiotic division in the egg begins before birth.
Meiotic division starts to occur in developing sperm when the male reaches puberty.
The second meiotic division in the egg is completed before fertilization occurs. Capacitation of the sperm is completed in the female reproductive tract. The second meiotic division of the ovum is only completed once the ovum has been successfully penetrated by a spermatozoon. The acrosomal reaction results in the release of enzymes necessary for sperm penetration of the corona radiata and zona pellucida. Fertilization normally occurs in the uterus.