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At puberty, the ovary begins to secrete increasing levels of hormones. Secondary sex characteristics begin to develop in response to the hormones. The ovary changes structure and function beginning at puberty. [2] Since the ovaries are able to regulate hormones, they also play an important role in pregnancy and fertility.
An ovarian follicle is a roughly spheroid cellular aggregation set found in the ovaries.It secretes hormones that influence stages of the menstrual cycle.In humans, women have approximately 200,000 to 300,000 follicles at the time of puberty, [1] [2] each with the potential to release an egg cell (ovum) at ovulation for fertilization. [3]
The corpus luteum (Latin for "yellow body"; pl.: corpora lutea) is a temporary endocrine structure in female ovaries involved in the production of relatively high levels of progesterone, and moderate levels of estradiol, and inhibin A. [1] [2] It is the remains of the ovarian follicle that has released a mature ovum during a previous ovulation. [3]
Five hormones participate in an intricate process of positive and negative feedback to regulate folliculogenesis. They are: gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secreted by the hypothalamus; two gonadotropins: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) luteinizing hormone (LH) estrogen; progesterone
Inhibin is produced in the gonads, pituitary gland, placenta, corpus luteum and other organs. FSH stimulates the secretion of inhibin from the granulosa cells of the ovarian follicles in the ovaries. In turn, inhibin suppresses FSH. Inhibin B reaches a peak in the early- to mid-follicular phase, and a second peak at ovulation.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates the ovarian production of estrogens by the granulosa cells of the ovarian follicles and corpora lutea. Some estrogens are also produced in smaller amounts by other tissues such as the liver, pancreas, bone, adrenal glands, skin, brain, adipose tissue, [97] and the breasts. [98]
A depiction of the ovarian cycle in animals. In human adult females, the primordial follicle is composed of a single oocyte surrounded by a layer of closely associated granulosa cells. In early stages of the ovarian cycle, the developing follicle acquires a layer of connective tissue and associated blood vessels. This covering is called the theca.
A gonad, sex gland, or reproductive gland [1] is a mixed gland and sex organ that produces the gametes and sex hormones of an organism. Female reproductive cells are egg cells, and male reproductive cells are sperm. [2] The male gonad, the testicle, produces sperm in the form of spermatozoa. The female gonad, the ovary, produces egg cells.