Where does fertilization typically occur in the female reproductive system?

Fertilization typically occurs in the fallopian tube, which serves as the primary site where the sperm meets the egg after ovulation. Following ovulation, the egg is released from the ovary and enters the fallopian tube. If sperm are present in the fallopian tube around the time of ovulation, they can fertilize the egg there. The resulting zygote will then travel down the fallopian tube and into the uterus, where it can implant and develop into a pregnancy. The fallopian tubes are crucial in the reproductive process for their role in both capturing the egg and facilitating fertilization.

In contrast, the ovary is where eggs are produced but does not serve as the site of fertilization. The uterus is involved in the implantation and support of a developing embryo, but it is not where fertilization occurs. The cervix, while an important passageway between the vagina and the uterus, also does not have a role in the fertilization process itself.