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called the mesovarium (mez ō -va¯ rē -ŭ m; mesentery of the may contain 5 million oogonia (ō-ō-gō ne¯-ă), the cells from which
Ovary
Uterus
Urinary
bladder
Symphysis Cervix
pubis of uterus
Urethra
Clitoris Vagina
Urethral orifice
Vaginal orifice
Labium minus
Labium majus
Uterine tube
Mesosalpinx
Mesovarium
Ovary
Broad ligament
Figure 28.10 Uterus, Vagina, Uterine Tubes, Ovaries, and Supporting Ligaments
Anterior view of the uterus, uterine tubes, and associated ligaments. The uterus and uterine tubes are cut in section (on the left side), and the vagina is cut to show the
internal anatomy. The inset shows the relationships between the ovary, uterine tube, and the ligaments that suspend them in the pelvic cavity.
oocytes develop. By the time of birth, many of the oogonia have de- granulosa cells. As the secondary follicle enlarges, surrounding
generated, and those remaining have begun meiosis. Meiosis stops, cells are molded around it to form the theca (thē kă), or capsule.
however, during the first meiotic division at a stage called Two layers of thecae can be recognized around the secondary fol-
prophase I (see figure 28.13). The cell at this stage is called a pri- licle: the vascular theca interna and the fibrous theca externa
mary oocyte, and at birth about 2 million of them are present. The (see figure 28.11).
primary oocyte is surrounded by a single layer of flat cells called The secondary follicle continues to enlarge, and, when the
granulosa (gran-ū-lō să) cells, and the structure is called a pri- fluid-filled vesicles fuse to form a single fluid-filled chamber called
mordial follicle. From birth to puberty, the number of primordial the antrum (an trŭm), the follicle is called the mature, or
–
follicles declines to around 300,000 400,000; of these only about graafian (graf e¯-ăn), follicle. The antrum progressively increases
400 continue oogenesis and are released from the ovary. At pu- in size and fills with additional fluid, and the follicle forms a lump
berty, the cyclical secretion of FSH stimulates the further develop- on the surface of the ovary after reaching its maximum size (see
ment of a small number of primordial follicles. The primordial figure 28.11).
follicle is converted to a primary follicle when the oocyte enlarges As the antrum forms, it’s filled with fluid produced by the
and the single layer of granulosa cells first becomes enlarged and granulosa cells. The oocyte is pushed off to one side of the follicle
cuboidal (see figure 28.11 and figure 28.12). Subsequently, several and lies in a mass of follicular cells called the cumulus mass, or cu-
layers of granulosa cells form, and a layer of clear material is de- mulus oophorus (kū mū-lŭs ō -of ōr-ŭs; see figure 28.11). The in-
posited around the primary oocyte called the zona pellucida nermost cells of this mass resemble a crown radiating from the
(zō nă pe-loo si-dă). oocyte and are thus called the corona radiata.
Some of the primary follicles continue development and be- Usually, only one graafian follicle reaches the most advanced
come secondary follicles. The granulosa cells multiply and form stages of development and is ovulated. The other follicles degener-
an increasing number of layers around the oocyte. Irregular small ate. In a mature follicle, just before ovulation, the primary oocyte
spaces called vesicles, which are fluid-filled, form among the completes the first meiotic division to produce a secondary oocyte
Seeley−Stephens−Tate: V. Reproduction and 28. Reproductive System © The McGraw−Hill
Anatomy and Physiology, Development Companies, 2004
Sixth Edition
Mesovarium
Blood vessels
Primordial follicles
Oocyte
Corpus albicans Primary follicles
Ovarian epithelium
Granulosa cells
Tunica albuginea Zona pellucida
Cortex
Medulla
Degenerating follicle
Secondary follicle
Vesicles
Zona pellucida
Zona pellucida
Oocyte
Corona radiata
Cumulus mass
Mature, or
Antrum
graafian, follicle
Theca interna
Theca externa
and a polar body (figure 28.13). Division of the cytoplasm is un- The release of the secondary oocyte is called ovulation (ov ū-
equal, and most of it goes to the secondary oocyte, whereas the po- lā shŭn, ō vū-lā shŭn).
lar body receives very little. The secondary oocyte begins the During ovulation, development of the secondary oocyte has
second meiotic division, which stops in metaphase II. stopped at metaphase II. If sperm cell penetration doesn’t occur,
the secondary oocyte never completes this second division and
Ovulation simply degenerates and passes out of the system. Continuation of
As the mature follicle continues to swell, it can be seen on the sur- the second meiotic division is triggered by fertilization, the entry
face of the ovary as a tight, translucent blister. The follicular cells of a sperm cell into the secondary oocyte. Once the sperm cell pen-
secrete a thinner fluid than previously and at an increased rate so etrates the secondary oocyte, the second meiotic division is com-
that the follicle swells more rapidly than can be accommodated by pleted, and a second polar body is formed. The fertilized oocyte is
follicular growth. As a result, the granulosa cells and theca become now called a zygote (zı̄ gō t; see figure 28.13).
very thin over the area exposed to the ovarian surface.
The mature follicle expands and ruptures, forcing a small Fate of the Follicle
amount of blood and follicular fluid out of the vesicle. Shortly af- After ovulation, the follicle still has an important function. It be-
ter this initial burst of fluid, the secondary oocyte, surrounded by comes transformed into a glandular structure called the corpus lu-
the cumulus mass and the zona pellucida, escapes from the follicle. teum (kō r pŭs loo tē-ŭ m; yellow body), which has a convoluted
Seeley−Stephens−Tate: V. Reproduction and 28. Reproductive System © The McGraw−Hill
Anatomy and Physiology, Development Companies, 2004
Sixth Edition
cuboidal. Granulosa
cells Zona pellucida
5 Mature (graafian)
follicle
5. A mature follicle forms when the fluid-filled
vesicles form a single antrum. When a follicle
becomes fully mature, it is enlarged to its Oocyte Zona pellucida
maximum size, a large antrum is present, and Cumulus mass
the oocyte is located in the cumulus mass.
Antrum
Theca interna
Theca externa
Granulosa cells
being converted to
corpus luteum cells
6. During ovulation the oocyte is released from the Oocyte
follicle, along with some surrounding granulosa Zona 6 Ovulation
cells of the cumulus mass called the corona pellucida (oocyte released)
radiata.
Cells of
the corona
radiata
Corpus luteum
7. Following ovulation, the granulosa cells divide
rapidly and enlarge to form the corpus luteum. 7 Corpus luteum forms
Corpus luteum