Fimbriae tubae project from the end of the fallopian tubes. They are lined with cilia, or hair-like structures, that guide the egg to the uterus. From there, the egg is either fertilized or shed during the menstrual cycle.
The fimbriae of the uterine tube, also known as fimbriae tubae, are small, fingerlike projections connected to the end of the fallopian tubes, through which eggs move from the ovaries to the uterus.
Small epithelial cells — those that line cavities throughout the body — with small, slender cilia (microscopic, hair-like structures) pulsate inside the fallopian tubes to guide the ovum, or egg, from the ovary to the uterus.
As there is no direct connection between the ovaries and fallopian tubes (also known as uterine tubes or oviducts), the egg is transported to the uterus in a peritoneal fluid produced by the fimbriae on the edge of the tube’s opening.
Because the ovum cannot move by itself, the sweeping movement of the cilia of the fimbriae dictates its movement. It generally takes about 3 to 5 days for an egg to leave the ovary and land in the uterus.
Once in the fallopian tube or uterus, the egg can be fertilized by sperm after intercourse, possibly leading to pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized, it will be shed during the next cycle of menstrual bleeding.