The ovary is a female reproductive organ that houses the ovum, which is an egg.
After being released, it goes down the fallopian tube and into the uterus, where it may be fertilised by sperm.
An ovary (from Latin ovarium, ‘egg, nut’) can be found on either side of the body.
The ovaries also release hormones that are involved in the menstrual cycle and fertilisation.
The ovary goes through a number of stages starting in the prenatal phase and continuing until menopause.
It is frequently classified as an endocrine gland because of the hormones it metabolises.
Ovary Structure:
The ovaries are the female gonads. The ovarian fossa, which runs alongside the uterus’s lateral wall, contains each (parts of ovary) ovary, which is pale in colour.
The ovarian fossa appears to be the area in front of the ureter and the internal iliac artery that is encircled by the external iliac artery.
This area is approximately 4 cm x 3 cm x 2 cm in size. A capsule surrounds the ovaries, which have an outer cortex and an inner medulla, according to ovary structure.
The tunica albuginea is a rich connective tissue-filled capsule. During each menstrual cycle, one of the two ovaries ovulates, releasing an egg.
The ovarian ligament joins the other side of the ovary to the uterus, whereas the infundibulopelvic ligament connects the section of the ovary closest to the fallopian tube to the tube.
One of the ovaries’ additional features and tissues is the hilum.
Ovary Structure in Humans
Ligaments:
The ovary section demonstrates that the ovaries are positioned inside the peritoneal cavity, on either side of the uterus, and are joined by the ovarian ligament, a fibrous cord.
The ovaries are exposed in the peritoneal cavity, but the ovary’s suspensory ligament, which seems to be a posterior extension of the uterus’ wide ligament, attaches them to the body wall.
The mesovarium is a section of the thick ligament of the uterus that protects the ovary.
The ovarian pedicle is made up of parts of the fallopian tube, ovarian ligament, mesovarium, and ovarian blood vessels.
Microanatomy:
The germinal epithelium is a basic cuboidal-to-columnar shaped mesothelium membrane that covers the top of the ovaries.
The ovary’s internal structure
The ovarian cortex is the outer layer, with ovarian follicles and stroma in between, according to the author.
Follicles contain the cumulus oophorus, membrana granulosa (and the granulosa cells within it), zona pellucida, corona radiata and primary oocyte.
Theca of follicle, antrum and liquid folliculi are frequently found in the follicle. The inner lining of the ovary is called the ovarian medulla.
It’s difficult to tell the difference between the cortex and the medulla, however follicles are rarely found in the medulla.
Flat epithelial cells that originate from the ovary’s surface epithelium are known as follicular cells.
They are surrounded by granulosa cells that have changed from flat to cuboidal and proliferate to produce a stratified epithelium.
The ovary also contains blood arteries and lymphatics.
Function:
The ovary begins to secrete more hormones when a youngster approaches puberty.
Secondary sex features occur as a result of the hormones. The anatomy and function of the ovary begin to alter around puberty.
The anatomy and function of the ovary begin to alter around puberty.
The ovaries are important in pregnancy and fertility because they have the power to manage hormones.
Once egg cells (oocytes) are retrieved from the Fallopian tube, a series of feedback mechanisms activate the endocrine system, causing hormone levels to alter.
These feedback systems are controlled by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The pituitary gland receives information from the hypothalamus.
In addition, the pituitary gland distributes hormones into the ovaries. In response to this signalling, the ovaries release their own hormones.
Gamete Production:
Egg cells, or female gametes, are created and discharged on a regular basis in the ovaries.
In the fluid-filled follicles of the ovaries, immature egg cells (or oocytes) mature.
In most circumstances, only one oocyte matures at a time, but others may mature at the same time.
Follicles are made up of different types and quantities of cells depending on their maturation stage, and their size represents oocyte growth stage.
The pituitary gland secretes luteinizing hormone once the oocyte has completed its maturation in the ovary, causing the oocyte to be released via follicular rupture, a process known as ovulation.
Secretion of Hormones:
The mature ovaries secrete oestrogen, inhibin, androgen, and progestogen.
Women’s ovaries contain 50% of testosterone until menopause, when it is released directly into the bloodstream.
The remaining 50% of testosterone in the blood comes from the conversion of adrenal pre-androgens (DHEA and androstenedione) to testosterone in other parts of the body.
Estrogen is responsible for the maturation and maintenance of fully functional reproductive organs in females during puberty, as well as the development of secondary sex characteristics.
Aging of the Ovaries:
Menopause happens when a woman’s reproductive ability deteriorates as she grows older.
This drop is connected to a decrease in the number of ovarian follicles. Only about 500 (about 0.05 percent) of the oocytes in the human ovary ovulate, and the rest are destroyed.
The loss of ovarian reserve occurs at a consistent rate as people become older, with near-complete depletion of the reserve occurring around the age of 52.
As ovarian reserve and fertility deteriorate with age, pregnancy failure and meiotic mistakes, which result in chromosomally abnormal pregnancies, become more common.
Ovarian reserve and fertility are at their peak around the age of 20–30.
Around the age of 45, the menstrual cycle begins to alter, and the follicular pool begins to diminish considerably.
Ovarian ageing is caused by unknown events. Aging variability is influenced by environmental influences, lifestyle choices, and genetic factors.
Animal and Human Ovary :
In birds, only one ovary (the left) is functioning, while the other is vestigial.
In that they are both gonads and endocrine glands, female ovaries are comparable to male testes.
Ovaries are found in the female reproductive system of many organisms that use sexual reproduction, such as invertebrates.
They may not evolve in most invertebrates in the same way that vertebrates do, and they are not totally identical.
Conclusion
An ovary (from Latin ovarium, ‘egg, nut’) can be found on either side of the body.
The ovaries also release hormones that are involved in the menstrual cycle and fertilisation.
The ovary goes through a number of stages starting in the prenatal phase and continuing until menopause.
It is frequently classified as an endocrine gland because of the hormones it metabolises.