THE OVARIES (STRUCTURE)

1-PRIMORDIAL FOLLICLES

2-PRIMARY FOLLICLES

3-SECONDARY FOLLICLES

4-GRAAFIAN FOLLICLES

5-CORPUS LUTEUM

6- CORPUS ALBICANS

The ovaries are female gonads or sex glands.there are two ovary situated in either side of uterus. The ovarian ligament attach with the ovary .each ovary is oval shape and pinkish grey colour.it is measures about 3 cm length,2 cm wide and 1cm in thickness..the outer most layer of ovary is called germinal epithelial.underneath this layer another fibrous connective tissue layer which is called tunica albuginea.

Broad ligaments are present infront of the ovary.

The Uterine tubes present above the ovary.

The Ovarian ligament lies between the uterus and ovaries.

The Infundibulopelvic ligaments situated on the lateral sides of the uterus.

The ovaries are supported by following. ligaments.

The ligaments are

1-The Broad ligaments-it is attach with posterior layer of broad ligament by the mesovarium.

2-Ovarian ligament-The ovary attach to the uterus by ovarian ligament.

3-Infundibulopelvic ligament- the ovary attach by the infundibulopelvic ligament to the lateral wall of the pelvic.

FUNCTION OF OVARIES

1-The ovary produce ova.

2-The ovaries produce oestrogen and progesterone hormones.

STRUCTURE OF OVARIES

The ovary is consist of cortex and medulla.

Cortex- it is outer zone of ovary.it contains ovarian follicles and different stages of development of ovarian follicles occure here.

Medulla- it is inner core of ovary.it is made of fibrous tissue .it contains ovarian blood vessels, lymphatics and nerves.

DIFFERENT STAGES OF FOLLICLES DEVELOPMENT

PRIMORDIAL FOLLICLES-this is primary ocyte.at the time birth of female baby the ovary contains 2 million primordial follicles.it is surrounded by a single layer of flattend epithelial cell.they are small.and 0.03 to 0.05 mm in diameter. the primordial follicles devlopes into primary follicles.

PRIMARY FOLLICLES

Primary follicles are larger than primordial follicles.and diameter is 0.1 mm .it is surrounded by single or several layers of cuboidal granulosa cells. the primary follicles develops into secondary follicles.

SECONDARY FOLLICLES-it is look very similar like primary follicles but it is larger than the primary follicles and there are accumulation of fluid in intracellular space.

TERTIARY FOLLICLES- it is also called mature graafian follicles

When ovulation occur the ovum released from graafian follicle.and The egg is release into fallopian tube by fimbriae.

And if it fertilized by sperm corpus luteum produce progesterone hormone which is responsible for maintaining pregnancy.(if women having low progesterone levels then there is chanse of miscarriage and spotting)

CORPUS LUTEUM

After ovum release from graafian follicle .the remaining part of graafian follicle converted to corpus luteum.and if fertilization occurred then release progesterone for maintaining pregnancy.and it is yellow body.

CORPUS ALBICANS

IT is white body.and if fertilization not occur corpus luteum degenerate and there is formation of scar with connective tissue that is called carpus albicans.