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31. The anatomy, histology and development of the ovary.
Posted in Pelvis by Sahaja on January 1, 2009

31. The anatomy, histology and development of the ovary.

Anatomy of Ovary

* only structure in ab/pelvis cavity that is EXTRA PERITONEAL

General Info:
surface covered w. germinal epithelium, which is modified peritoneal covering from development

Location: in ovarian fossa, in post part of broad ligament, @ lat wall of pelvis, located @ bifurcation point of common iliac
a on both sides, @sacro-iliac joint

Topography:

ant = med umbilical ligament

post = ureter & int iliac a
sup extremity = infundibulum of uterine tube, end suspended via suspensory ligament of ovary (contains ovarian a/v)
= highest point of broad ligament
inf extremity = angle of body, uterine tube via proper ligament of ovary (analogous to guberlaculum testis)

Peritoneal relations:

connects to post side of broad ligament via mesovarium

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NOT covered w/ peritoneum, so ovum can fall into peritoneal cavity –> fallopian tube
CLINICAL NOTE – if somehow fertilized outside of uterine tube, can cause ectopic pregnancy

• The ovary is anchored to the posterior aspect of the broad ligament by a peritoneal fold, the mesovary.

• The suspensory ligament of the ovary extends from the tubal end of ovary to the lateral wall of the pelvis. It
contains the ovarian blood vessels and nerves.
Farre line: a whitish line marking the insertion of the mesovarium at the hilum of the ovary.

Blood Supply: ovarian a (contained w/in suspensory ligament of ovary)

has ovarian and tubal br that make anatomosis w/ ovarian br/tubal br of uterine a

Venous drainage:

veins draining ovary make a pampiniform plexus (like the one around the testis), that run w/in broad ligament
Ovarian v – R –> IVC
L –> L renal v

Lymph drainage: vessels follow ovarian a/v and join vessels from uterine tube and fundus of uterus –> lumbar lymph
plexus

)erve Supply:

S)S and aff fibers –> run w/ ovarian a/v —> make connections w/ pelvic plexus –> ovarian n plexus
P)S: from pelvis splanchnic n –> same route w/ ovarian vessels

Histology of Ovary

Slide #72 Ovary *H&E

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Structures to Identify:

primoridal follicle
germinal epithelium
primary follcile
secondary follicle
tertiary (grafiaan) follicle
corpus luteum
corpus hemorroidal
corpus fibricans
corpus albicans
cumulus oophorus
corona radiata
zona pellucida
theca internta
theca externa
granulosal cells
stromal tissue (spino cellular tissue)

General Info

2 major functions = production of gamete (oocytes), production of hormones (progesterone, estrogen)

has tubular pole – connected to suspensory ligament
has uterine pole – connect to uterus via proper ligament of ovary
External cortex – site of follicular maturation
Internal medulla – rich in CT, lymph, a/v

Function:Hormone secretion = corpus luteum responsible for Steroidogenesis

1. Estrogen – promotes maturation of internal and externa genitalia, and development of mammary gland
2. Progesterone – prepare uterus for pregnancy, and mammary gland for lactation.
Both hormones play key role in menstrual cycle

Cortex

Epith = cuboidal germinal epithelium, instead of mesothelium,

Therefore, in case of ovulation, rupture of epith is possible to release oocyte.
The epith can grow and cover the rupture hole.
Repeated rupturing due to monthly ovulation of a woman leads to a scarred look on the epith.
There is no mesothelium coverage, because ovary is EXTRAperitoneal, though is continuous with
mesothelium of visceral peritoneum of surrounding areas.

Beneath that is a layer of dense CT = tunica albuginea.

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Then is the stromal or spinocellular tissue, in which all the follicles are embedded
also just called stroma
contains fibrocytes and smooth m cells, that contribute to theca externa

Stages of Follicle Maturation: – find follicles within the cortex.

follicular development

process beings with premordial follicle and ends with ovulation of oocyte into uterine tube
occurs under influence of FSH
In fetal life, oocytes divid mitotically, creating HUGE # of oogonia (not so in life)
As female goes thru puberty, ovaries begin process of reproductive activity characterized by growth and maturation
of oocytes and surrounding follicles, meaning that the size of follicles can te4sll how close we are to creating mature
oocyte.

Primoridal follicle: – make about 20/month.

oocyte surrounded by single layer of follicular cells,

simple squamous epith
resting in prophase

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primordial follicle

1st Primary follicle

follicular cells enlarge and become cuboidal = now called granulosa cells,these cells later form the corona radiata
zona pellucida starts to appear – non cellular layer between corona and oocyte itself
Glycoprotein rich zone (ZP 1, 2, 3 )
Zone of contact and communication between oocyte microvilli and granulosa cell processes.
Develop gap junctions
oocyte itself becomes bigger

primary follicle

2nd primary follicle -

zona pellucida is present (very eosinophillic, made of carbs, can be stained by PAS)
follicular epith become stratified and becomes known as stroma granulosum.
Theca cells from surrounding CT begin to be seen. These are actually stromal cells layering themselves into two layers

Seconday follicle -

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secondary follicle

Clear theca interna and externa seen, zona pellucida seen

antrum vacuoles start to appear
with follicular liquor inside, that contains peptides produced by granulosa cells
if u see an antrum = secondary follicle
granulosa cells on one side of follicle surrounds the oocyte to form = cumulus oophorus
Between layer of granulosa cells and theca cells is a thin basement membrane
Theca internata is thicker and very defined inner layer –> produces hormones
Theca externa is much thinner and interweaves with surrounding CT

Tertiary follicle = Graafian follicle

Largest ones in slide, usualy closer to center of slide

theca interna and theca externa are thicker
cresent shapen antrum is now seen (formed by merging of previously seen vacuoles)
corona radiata (communicates with gap junctions)
oval within inter cavity, with liquid inside
oocyte accentric within follicle (attached to one side)
granular cells protrude into cavity to produce the cumulus oophorus.

Remember that the corona radiata accompanies oocytes in ovulation, as well as the zona pellucida.

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Within follicle, seconday oocyte has 1 cm diameter.

Maturation of follicles are activated by FSH (Follicular stimulating hormone), EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor), and
Ca2+

Oocyte stops growing thanks to OMI (Oocyte Maturation Inhibitor), secreted by the granulosa cells.

Oocyte maturation

Oocytes stay in primary follicle phase for 15-20 years in prophase I of 1st Meiotic division
Completion of 1st stage of Meiosis occurs only before the ovulation in the Graafian follicle.
Primary oocyte (4n) splits into –> Secondary oocyte + 1st polar body
Secondary oocyte is arrested in metaphase of 2nd meiotic division
completed only if seconday oocyte is penetrated by spermatogonia, in which case the seondary oocyte –> final oocyte
+ 2nd polar body

Fertilization (discussed in more detail in another topic)

Occurs in ampulla of uterine tube – secondary oocyte and sperm meet

Before this, capacitation occurs to spermatozoa, allowing to bind to receptors on zona pellucida
By binding to these receptors, acrosomal reaction of spermatozoa occurs, (enzyme release by cap of sperm to enable
the sperm to penetrate the oocyte)
Male pronucleus combine with female pronucleus –> zygote is formed

3 mechanisms to ensure only 1 sperm enters oocyte

Depolarization of Oolema
Cortical reaction
Zonal reaction

Medulla

dense irregular CT, that is connected to the uterus via meso-ovary.

has many a/v

Slide # 73 Ovary w/ Corpus Luteum

Unique structures to Identify:

Granulosa lutein cells

Theca lutein cells
Follicular cavity
CT
a/v

General Info:

Follicular atresia – at any point of follicular development, it can degenerate and then be absorbed via phagocytosis

atretric cells can be seen through out cortex

Early Stage:
theca interna and granulosa cells intact
some cells are in antrum within the follicular fluid
cumulus oophorus maybe be disrupted
oocyte starts to degenerate
BM is thicker and folded = glassy membrane
Late Stage:
much smaller
stroma replaces follicular cells entirely
glassy membrane is even thicker and folded

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late follicular atresia

Corpus Luteum – formed after ovulation of a mature follicle and collapse of its wall

After ovulation, hemorrhage into the remains of the follicle usually occurs resulting in a structure called a corpus
hemorrhagicum. This transitory structure develops into a corpus luteum.

In most species LH from the pituitary gland initiates this luteinization and stimulates the granulosa cells to
secrete progesterone. The granulosa cells undergo hyperplasia (proliferation), hypertrophy (enlargement) and
are transformed into granulosa lutein cells. In several species, including the human, the accumulation of a
yellow lipid pigment (lutein) and other lipids marks the transition to granulosa lutein cells. The cells of the theca
interna are also transformed into lipid-forming cells called theca lutein cells. The resulting structure is highly
vascular. If fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum persists and secretes progesterone.

If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates and is replaced by connective tissue forming a
corpus albicans.

theca lutein cells - formed from theca interna cells, located in periphery of corpus luteum, and w/it its fold
granulosa lutein cells – hypertrophic granulosa cells (over grown)
Theca externa CT pierces the walls of it.
Later stage of it:
lutein cells shrink

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pyknosis of the nuclei

fibrous center
CT replaces luteal cells to form temporary fibrous capsule — eventually forms corpus albicans

Embryology of Ovary

Development of Ovaries:

Intermediate mesoderm from longitudinal elevation along dorsal body wall = urogenital ridge
coelomic epith & mesoderm of urogenital ridge proliferate = gonadal ridge
Primary sex cords develop from gonadal ridge –> and absorb in primordial germ cells from yolk sac
Primary sex cords develop into rete ovarii – not there in adult life
Secondary sex cords develop and absorb in primordial germ cells from yolk sac ,too
–> break apart into cell clusters = primordial follicles – that undergo FOLLICULAR DEVELOPME)T (see histo)

Mesoderm origin = primary oocytes, simple squamous lining, CT stroma of ovary

Descent of Ovaries:
all that was listed above occurs in abdominal cavity, and then descent into pelvic cavity
involves gubernaculum – a fibrous tissue that runs from:

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ab wall to end of ovary –> form ovarian ligament,

and to labia majora –> form round ligament of uterus

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

Cycle Day 1/Stimulant Day 1 (CD1/SD1)

Head and Neck Anatomy
Textbook of Oral development and Histology

Tagged with: atresia, corpus albicans, Corpus luteum, cumulus oophorus, Follicle-stimulating hormone, follicles, follicular
liquor, germinal epithelium, Grafiaan follicle, granulosa cells, line of Farre, Menstrual cycle, Ovary, primordial follicle,
spinocellular tissue, theca interna and externa, theca lutein

4 comments

« 29. The anatomy, histology and development of the kidney.

32. The anatomy, histology and development of the uterine tube and uterus. »

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1. Athanasios Gkrilias said, on December 26, 2008 at 7:42 PM

Hey..thank you a lot for this very nice presantation…helps me alot for the histology part of my anatomy’s part…the
problem is that the slide recongination part was always my problem but your pictures are very helpfull.if i got this slide
about the ovaries i might pass the lesson at last

Reply

2. kennedy gladys said, on January 29, 2009 at 8:42 PM

thanks alot u guys did a 1derful job here .this was really helpful……..

Reply

3. MichaellaS said, on July 20, 2009 at 3:22 PM

tks for the effort you put in here I appreciate it!

Reply

4. chhabindra nepal said, on November 24, 2009 at 6:46 PM

nice job, things are to the point and very much helpful

Reply

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About This Site:

This site was made for the Anatomy, Histology, Embryology class in 2nd yr, 1st semester at the University of Debrecen. All
theoretical topics are listed as described on the website of the Anatomy department.

We combined Practical class notes, Moore, Board Review Series textbooks of Gross Anatomy and Embryology, Langman’s,
DiFiore’s, as well as the Lab manual for Histology at Semmelweiss. We believe it to be all inclusive of the material you will
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impossible, we decided to post them here.

On the left are the newest topics we’ve added.

To see all the topics we’ve done so far, scroll down and click on the Category you would like to see: Head & )eck,
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Added a search box in the sidebar, so you can search for the item you want.

But the best way to find the topic that you want?

Scroll down and click on the “Link to Topics” Page. There is the list of all topics. If a link to your topic of choice
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We are adding more info by the day, so check back in with us!

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contact: sahaja.parsa[at]gmail.com

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