Question

Describe the internal structure of human ovary.

Answer 1

The ovaries are the female gonads. Each ovary is located alongside the lateral wall of the uterus in a region called the ovarian fossa. These are connected to the uterus by the fallopian tubes. It is covered by a layer of germinal epithelium. During embryonic life, the cells of the germinal epithelium proliferate thousands of primordial follicles. The cortex contains thousands of tiny undeveloped ovarian follicles. Medulla contains only blood vessels and nerve fibres. A fully mature ovarian follicle is called a Graafian follicle. It has an outer multilayered membrana granulosa formed of 2 - 3 layers of follicle cells. The oocyte is surrounded by a vitelline membrane, zona radiata and corona radiata. The oocyte is attached to the membrana granulosa by a group of cells called discus proligerus. The graafian follicle has a follicular cavity or antrum filled with a colourless follicular fluid. In human female, at around 28 days, one graafian follicle matures and ruptures and thereby releasing an ovum. After the ovum is released, it becomes the corpus luteum. It serves as a temporary endocrine gland by releasing female sex hormones namely progesterone and estrogen. It then becomes corpus albicans and disappear.