befruktas

Befruktas is a Swedish verb form meaning “to be fertilized” or “to undergo fertilization.” It is the passive form of the verb befukra/befrukta and is used to describe organisms, cells, or tissues that become fertilized in the course of sexual reproduction. The term is commonly encountered in discussions of biology and reproductive processes.

In animals, fertilization typically involves the fusion of a male gamete (sperm) with a female gamete (egg) to form a zygote. Fertilization can occur internally, within the female reproductive tract, or externally, in the surrounding environment (for example, in aquatic habitats). Following fertilization, the zygote begins embryonic development and may proceed through numerous developmental stages.

In plants, fertilization involves pollen delivering male gametes to the female reproductive structure. In flowering plants (angiosperms), a process called double fertilization occurs: one sperm fertilizes the egg to form the zygote, while another sperm fuses with two polar nuclei to form the endosperm, which nourishes the developing embryo. In gymnosperms and other plant groups, fertilization also results in seed formation, though the specifics of pollen–egg interaction differ by lineage.

Linguistically, bef ruktas appears in scientific and educational texts to denote the state of having been fertilized. It contrasts with unfertilized or non-fertilized states and is used when describing outcomes of reproductive processes in various organisms.

See also: fertilization, gamete, zygote, plant fertilization, seed formation.