During the process of oocyte formation, three additional haploid cells are produced that will not be fertilized. These cells are called polar bodies. Oocytes are formed through a process called oogenesis, which takes place in the ovaries of females. In oogenesis, a diploid cell called a primary oocyte undergoes meiosis, a type of cell division, to produce one mature egg cell or oocyte and three polar bodies. The polar bodies contain half the number of chromosomes as the mother cell and are typically small and non-functional. They eventually degenerate and are absorbed by the body. The primary role of polar bodies is to ensure that the final resultant oocyte contains the necessary genetic material to combine with a sperm during fertilization to form a zygote with the correct number of chromosomes.
