Egg Envelopes of Vertebrates
Egg Envelops
• All membranes (covering) which are present outside to plasma membrane of
oocyte or ovum is known as egg membranes now instead on membrane envelop
term is used. Envelope containing oocyte or ovum is called as egg.
• Egg envelope on the basis of origin are of three types.
(1) Primary egg envelops - These are secreted by egg.
e.g. Vitelline membrane-,Zona pellusida
(2) Secondary egg envelops - These are secreted by ovary or ovarian follicles.
e.g.- Chorion on insects.
(3) Tertiary egg envelops - These are secreted by oviduct.
e.g.- Jelly coat of frog, Albumin, shell membrane and shell of Hen.
• All ova like any other cell, are covered by a plasma membrane (PM) also referred to
as oolemma or cytoplasmic membrane
• In addition to possessing the oolemma the eggs are also surrounded by special egg
envelopes or extracellular coats which develop during the course of oogenesis.
• These egg membranes can be classified according to their site of origin as primary,
secondary or tertiary types.
I. Primary Egg Envelopes
• Primary egg envelopes develop in the ovary between oocyte and follicle cells
• The space occupied by the interdigitating microvilli.
• Such envelopes have been named variously in different animals and given below:
a) The vitalline membrane or primary envelope
• non cellular transparent layer of mucoprotein,
• supplemented by extensions of membrane glycoprotein from the plasma
membrane and by proteinaceous structures that attach the vitelline envelope to
the membrane.
• This membrane is essential for species- specific binding of the sperm and is found
in insects, molluscs, amphibians and birds.
• b) In tunicates and fishes, the primary envelope is known as chorion.
• In many sharks and bony fishes the primary envelope has a striated appearance
due to the degraded microvilli of the growing oocyte and is referred to as zona
radiata.
• The perforation in the zona radiata becomes the micropyle through which the
spermatozoa can enter the egg.
• c) In mammals, the primary egg envelope is called the zona pellucida. It is
• an unstriated and modified layer formed as a result of joint efforts of egg and
follicle cells .
• While escaping the Graafian follicle the mammalian oocyte carries on the surface
of zona pellucida a layer of follicle cells known as corona radiata.
• The primary envelopes usually stick closely to the egg surface. These later on
• participate in the formation of the fertilization membrane.
II. Secondary Egg Envelope or coat
• The secondary egg envelopes are secreted outside the primary egg envelope by
the layer of follicle cells that surrounds the oocyte and are referred to as:
• a) Chorion in insects, ascidians and cyclostomes which is in the form of a chitinous
shell in these animals.
• b) Corona radiata in mammals.
• c) Outer vitelline membrane in birds.
III. Tertiary Egg Envelope
• The tertiary egg envelope is secreted by oviducts and other accessory parts of the
genital organs .
• while the egg passes through them from the ovary to the exterior, towards the
cloaca.
a) In ovoviviparous sharks the tertiary egg envelope surrounding the egg is in the form
of a hard shell which is secreted by shell glands of the oviduct.
• The shell is drawn out as twisted horns which help to entangle the egg among sea
weeds.
b) In amphibians, the tertiary egg envelope layer is in the form of a jelly or albumin
layer which surrounds the egg
• and protects it from adverse effects of sun rays, abrasion as well as from predators
(because of itsbad taste).
• The jelly absorbs water and swells up
An amphibian egg a) as taken from oviduct and; b) sometime after in
spawning in water with swollen jelly membrane.
• In birds, reptiles and monotremes, the tertiary envelope includes the egg white or
albumin as well as its chalazae which is the twisted albumin in form of spiral
strands.
• Both of these surround the yolk of the ovum and are covered by inner and outer
shell membranes which are in close contact with one another and
• are also known as the tertiary envelope
A median longitudinal section of hen's egg to show the egg
envelopes.
