polar body

polar body   n.  A minute cell produced and ultimately discarded in the development of an oocyte, containing little or no cytoplasm but having one of the nuclei derived from the first or second meiotic division.

Main Entry: polar body
Function: noun
: a cell that separates from an oocyte during meiosis: a : one containing a nucleus produced in the first meioticdivision called also first polar body b : one containing a nucleus produced in the second meiotic division called also second polar body

polar body n.
Either of two small cells formed by the ovum during its maturation, the first usually released just before ovulation and the second not until after the ovum has been discharged from the ovary and penetrated by a sperm cell.

polar body   One of the small cells that are produced during the development of an oocyte and ultimately degenerate. A polar body contains one of the nuclei derived from the first or second meiotic division but little or no cytoplasm. See Note at oogenesis.