Ovaries

These are the primary reproductive organs, producing the female sex cells and sex hormones.

The ovaries are the female gonads. There are two almondshaped glands suspended by ligaments in the upper pelvic cavity. There is one ovary on each side of the uterus. The ligaments that suspend the ovaries contain ovarian blood vessels and nerves.

The tissues of an ovary are divided into two regions, an inner medulla and an outer cortex. The ovarian medulla is largely composed of loose connective tissue, numerous blood vessels, lymph vessels and nerves. The ovarian cortex is composed of compact tissue containing tiny masses of cells called ovarian (primordial) follicles. The follicles contain the female sex cells or ova.

Follicle

This is the storehouse of potential egg cells (oocytes). During the reproductive life of a woman every month, one such cell matures to become an active egg.

In the outer region of the ovarian cortex, there are microscopic groups of cells, which are referred to as primordial follicles. Each follicle consists of a single large cell, called