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ZP
Abbreviation of zona pellucida; an extracellular, amorphous, translucent glycoprotein coat approximately 5–10 μm thick surrounds the oocyte, zygote, morula and pre-implantation blastocyst. It plays a role in fertilisation, preventing polyspermy and protecting the embryo until the blastocyst hatches. 
Grammatical category Noun
Field Anatomy, physiology and embryology
Level of specialization High
Definition source National Library of Medicine
Gender relationship Yes, woman
Specific to one sex Yes
Prevalence Woman
Variants
Synonym
egg coat
Standard
egg shell
Formal
glycoprotein shell
Formal
zona matrix
Formal
Formal
Equivalents

Spanish

ZP
zona pelúcida
zona pelúcida

Valenciano

ZP
Associated concepts
Type of
extracellular matrix
Part of
oocyte
Is accompanied by
sperm binding
May cause
polyspermy block
Examples
Characteristics of the Zona Pellucida (ZP): embryos with a thinner ZP and higher variation in ZP thickness have a greater likelihood of producing a pregnancy (Filho et al., 2010) .
ICSI ICSI was developed in 1991 as an artificial insemination approach consisting of the breaching of the ZP and ooplasm and deposit of a single immobilised spermatozoon inside the oolemma (Palermo et al., 1992, 1995).
Collocations
WITH VERBS
perforating | penetrate the ZP
WITH NOUNS
 ZP thickness || binding spermatozoa | non-binding sperm
WITH ADJECTIVES
thinner | abnormal ZP