Viljastunud

Viljastunud is an Estonian word that translates to "fertilized" in English. It refers to the biological process where a male gamete (sperm) fuses with a female gamete (egg) to form a zygote. This union initiates the development of a new organism. The term can be applied to both sexual reproduction in animals and the fertilization process in plants, where pollen grains interact with ovules.

In the context of human reproduction, fertilization typically occurs in the fallopian tube. The resulting zygote then undergoes cell division and travels to the uterus, where it implants and develops into an embryo. In plants, fertilization leads to the formation of a seed, which contains the embryo and a food source. The process is fundamental to the continuation of species and is a key event in the life cycle of sexually reproducing organisms. The successful outcome of fertilization is the creation of a viable embryo capable of further development.