ovaries

ovaries
• The female gonads are called the ovaries.
 By )
In both the males and females, the gonads develop within
the mesonephric ridge and descend through the abdomen.
However, unlike the testes, the ovaries stop in the pelvis.
The ovaries are paired, oval organs attached to the posterior
surface of the broad ligament of the uterus by the mesovarium (a
fold of peritoneum, continuous with the outer surface of the
ovaries).
Neurovascular structures enter the hilum of the ovary via the
mesovarium.
The main functions of the ovaries are:
•To produce oocytes (female gametes) in preparation for
fertilisation.
•To produce the sex steroid
hormones oestrogen and progesterone, in response to pituitary
gonadotrophins (LH and FSH).
Components of the Ovary
The ovary has three main histological features:
•Surface – formed by simple cuboidal epithelium
(known as germinal epithelium). Underlying this
layer is a dense connective tissue capsule.
•Cortex – comprised of a connective tissue stroma
and numerous ovarian follicles. Each follicle
contains an oocyte, surrounded by a single layer of
follicular cells.
•Medulla – formed by loose connective tissue and
a rich neurovascular network, which enters via the
hilum of the ovary
 Ligaments

• Two peritoneal ligaments attach to the ovary;

• Suspensory ligament of ovary – fold of
peritoneum extending from the mesovarium to
the pelvic wall. Contains neurovascular
structures.
• Ligament of ovary – extends from the ovary to
the fundus of the uterus. It then continues from
the uterus to the connective tissue of the labium
majus, as the round ligament of uterus.
Neurovascular Supply
The main arterial supply to the ovary is via the paired ovarian
arteries. These arise directly from the abdominal aorta (inferior
the renal arteries). There is also a contribution from the uterine
arteries.
Venous drainage is achieved by paired ovarian veins. The left
ovarian vein drains into the left renal vein, and the right ovarian
vein drains directly into the inferior vena cava.
The ovaries receive sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation
from the ovarian and uterine (pelvic) plexuses, respectively. The
nerves reach the ovaries via the suspensory ligament of the
ovary, to enter the ovary at the hilum.

Lymphatic Supply
Lymph from the ovaries drains into the para-aortic nodes.