» Note: This article deals primarily with human ovulation; nonhuman animal ovulation is touched on briefly at the conclusion.Ovulation is the process in the menstrual cycle by which a mature ovarian follicle ruptures and discharges an ovum (also known as an oocyte, female gamete, or casually, an egg) that participates in reproduction. Ovulation also occurs in the estrous cycle of other animals, which differs in many fundamental ways from the menstrual cycle. Overview The process of ovulation is… (More on Ovulation)