Primary oocyte inside primary follicle is temporarily arrested in which stage of meiotic division?

Options

A. Prophase I
B. Metaphase II
C. Anaphase I
D. Telophase I

Answer

To answer the question regarding the stage of meiotic division in which the primary oocyte inside the primary follicle is temporarily arrested, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Oocyte Development**:
- In females, oocyte development begins during fetal development. Millions of primary oocytes are formed in the ovaries before birth.

2. **Arrested Development**:
- After the formation of primary oocytes, they undergo the first meiotic division but do not complete it. Instead, they enter a state of arrest.

3. **Identifying the Arrest Stage**:
- The primary oocytes are arrested in the prophase stage of meiosis. Specifically, they are in **Prophase I** of meiosis.

4. **Duration of Arrest**:
- This arrest in Prophase I lasts from the time of birth until puberty. During puberty, hormonal changes trigger the maturation of these oocytes.

5. **Completion of Meiosis**:
- Once puberty begins, oocytes resume their development. The first meiotic division is completed during the menstrual cycle, and if fertilization occurs, the second meiotic division is completed.

6. **Final Answer**:
- Therefore, the primary oocyte inside the primary follicle is temporarily arrested in **Prophase I** of meiotic division.