The ovaries

What is present in the cortex

Follicles

Multilamar primary follicle

• many layers of cells

Unilamar primary follicle

• one layer of cells

What is present in the medulla

• Ovarian artery and vein

Outer layer

• simple cuboidal

• Germinal epithelium

• Essentially the peritoneum of ovary

Below germinal epithelium

• tunica albuginea

• Dense connective tissue

Stromal cells

• wavy cells

• Around follicles

• Provide support for follicles

Primordial follicle

• single layer of granulosar cells surrounding oocyte

What changes as follicles develop

• layers of cell surrounding the oocyte

Primary follicle

• more cuboidal granulosar cells surrounding oocyte

• Stratified cells

• Cytoplasm and nucleolus still visible in oocyte

• Oocyte surrounding by dense structure, zona pellucida

Secondary follicle

• many layers of granulosa cells compared to primary

• Short lived transitional state

Fluid filled space

• antrum

The layers of theca cells

• interna and externa

Theca externa

• fibrous connective tissue

Theca interna

• separated from granulosa cells by basement membrane

Preantral follicle

• after secondary

• Theca cells begin to develop

Corpus luteum

• looks like a big dark blob

Early antral follicle

• fluid filled cavities form in the granulosa layers

• Theca interna forms

Antral follicle

• large fluid filled space

• Theca interna and externa

Hilus

• point of entry of neural input and blood vessels

Ovulating follicle

• fuses with surface

• Releases oocyte

What happens to a released oocyte in ovulation

• fuses with ovary surface to secrete hormones (corpus luteum)

• De differentiates into corpus albicans - scar tissue

Zona pellucida

• surrounds oocyte

• Matrix of glycoprotein

Corona radiata

• innermost layer of cells of cumulus oophorus

• Next to zona pellucida