Ovary Information & Ovary Links at HealthHaven.com

Ovary
	Internal reproductive organs of human female
Latin	ovarium
Gray's	subject #266 1254
Artery	ovarian artery, uterine artery
Vein	ovarian vein
Nerve	ovarian plexus
Lymph	lumbar lymph nodes
MeSH	Ovary
Dorlands/Elsevier	Ovary

For ovary as part of plants, see ovary (plants).

"Ovaria" redirects here. This is also a proposed section and a synonym of Solanum.

The ovary is an ovum-producing reproductive organ, often found in pairs as part of the vertebrate female reproductive system. Ovaries in females are homologous to testes in males, in that they are both gonads and endocrine glands.

[edit] Human anatomy

Ovaries are oval shaped and, in the human, measure approximately 3 cm x 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm (about the size of a Greek olive). The ovary (for a given side) is located in the lateral wall of the pelvis in a region called the ovarian fossa. The fossa usually lies beneath the external iliac artery and in front of the ureter and the internal iliac artery.

The ovaries aren't attached to the fallopian tubes but to the outer layer of the uterus via the ovarian ligaments. Usually each ovary takes turns releasing eggs every month; however, if there was a case where one ovary was absent or dysfunctional then the other ovary would continue providing eggs to be released.

[edit] Hormones

Ovaries secrete both estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is responsible for the appearance of secondary sex characteristics of females at puberty and for the maturation and maintenance of the reproductive organs in their mature functional state. Progesterone functions with estrogen by promoting cyclic changes in the endometrium (it prepares the endometrium for pregnancy), as well as by helping maintain the endometrium in a healthy state during pregnancy.

[edit] Ligaments

In the human the paired ovaries lie within the pelvic cavity, on either side of the uterus, to which they are attached via a fibrous cord called the ovarian ligament. The ovaries are uncovered in the peritoneal cavity but are tethered to the body wall via the suspensory ligament of the ovary. The part of the broad ligament of the uterus that covers the ovary is known as the mesovarium. Thus, the ovary is the only organ in humain body which is totally invaginated into the peritonium, making it the only interperitoneal organ (not to be confused with intraperitoneal).

[edit] Extremities

There are two extremities to the ovary:

The end to which the uterine tube attach is called the tubal extremity.
The other extremity is called the uterine extremity. It points downward, and it is attached to the uterus via the ovarian ligament.

[edit] Histology

[edit] Cell Types

Follicular Cells - flat epithelial cells that originate from surface epithelium covering the ovary
granulosa cells - surrounding follicular cells have change from flat to cuboidal and proliferated to produce a stratified epithelium
Gametes^[1]

Section of the ovary of a newly born child. Germinal epithelium is seen at top. Primitive ova are seen in their cell-nests. The Genital cord or genital ridge is still discernible in this young child. A blood vessel and an ovarian follicle is also seen

The outermost layer is called the germinal epithelium.
The tunica albuginea covers the cortex.
The ovarian cortex consists of ovarian follicles and stroma in between them. Included in the follicles are the cumulus oophorus, membrana granulosa (and the granulosa cells inside it), corona radiata, zona pellucida, and primary oocyte. The zona pellucida, theca of follicle, antrum and liquor folliculi are also contained in the follicle. Also in the cortex is the corpus luteum derived from the follicles.
The innermost layer is the ovarian medulla. It can be hard to distinguish between the cortex and medulla, but follicles are usually not found in the medulla.

[edit] See also

Ovarian disease

[edit] Additional images

Uterus and uterine tubes	Organs of the female reproductive system.	Ovary	An ovary about to release an egg.
Vessels of the uterus and its appendages, rear view.	Broad ligament of adult, showing epoöphoron.	Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind.	Female pelvis and its contents, seen from above and in front.
Arteries of the female reproductive tract: uterine artery, ovarian artery and vaginal arteries.