oocytes

 The oocytes develop by way of a process called oogenesis. 

During oogenesis a primary oocyte develops into a secondary oocyte.

 The primary oocyte is diploid, so it contains all 46 chromosomes. 

As it undergoes meiosis it becomes a haploid secondary oocyte, which only contains 23 chromosomes. 

The other 23 chromosomes are eliminated as a polar body. 

Here maturation ceases unless fertilization occurs which produces a zygote which again has 46 chromosomes—23 from the female and 23 from the male.