Female Internal Reproductive Organ > Ovary

A maturing egg contained in a cellular sac is called the follicle.

When the follicle enlarges and fills with fluid as the egg grows, it is called a Graafian follicle.

The remnant of the follicle persists for some time to convert into a yellow mass called corpus luteum (corpus: body, luteum: yellow).

The ovary is the primary female reproductive organ (gonad). It is paired, meaning a healthy adult female has two ovaries, one on each side of the lower abdominal (pelvic) region.

Dual Function of the Ovary:

• Gametogenic - Produces female gametes (ova) through the process of oogenesis
• Endocrine - Secretes female sex hormones: oestrogen, progesterone, relaxin, activin, and inhibin

Outer Covering

• Outermost layer: Germinal epithelium - a single layer of cuboidal epithelial cells
• Beneath it: Tunica albuginea - a thin layer of dense connective tissue that gives the ovary its firm texture

Internal Zones

Cortex (Outer zone):

• Contains ovarian follicles at various stages of development embedded in connective tissue stroma
• Site of follicle development, oogenesis, and hormone production

Medulla (Inner zone):

• Composed of loose connective tissue
• Contains blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves
• Does not contain follicles

Ovary in longitudinal section

• Ovaries are the primary female sex organs that produce ova and secrete the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
• They are almond-shaped, solid structures located in the lower abdominal cavity and attached by the mesovarium.
• Each ovary is covered by germinal epithelium and internally divided into cortex and medulla.
• The cortex contains ovarian follicles with immature oocytes, supported by granulosa cells.