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1. What are the ovaries? The female gonads that produce oocytes and sex steroid
hormones, notably estrogen and progesterone.
2. What is the average size of an About 2 to 3 cm in length, similar to the size of an almond.
ovary?
3. What supports the ovaries in the The mesovarium, an extension of the peritoneum.
pelvic cavity?
4. What is the ovarian surface ep- The outer covering of cuboidal epithelium on the ovary.
ithelium?
5. What is the tunica albuginea? A dense connective tissue covering beneath the ovarian
surface epithelium.
6. What is the ovarian cortex? The outer portion of the ovary, composed of ovarian stro-
ma where oocytes develop.
7. What is a follicle? A grouping of an oocyte and its supporting cells in the
ovary.
8. What is folliculogenesis? The process of growth and development of ovarian folli-
cles.
9. How often does ovulation typi- Approximately every 28 days.
cally occur?
10. What is atresia in the context of The death of ovarian follicles that can occur at any point
ovarian follicles? during development.
11. What are primordial follicles? The least developed ovarian follicles consisting of a single
oocyte and a single layer of flat granulosa cells.
12.
, Anatomy and Physiology of the Female Reproductive System
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What happens to primordial fol- They may respond to recruitment signals and develop into
licles after puberty? primary follicles.
13. What characterizes primary folli- They consist of an oocyte surrounded by a layer of cuboidal
cles? granulosa cells.
14. What are secondary follicles? The third stage of follicle development formed from pri-
mary follicles, characterized by increased diameter and the
presence of theca cells.
15. What is the zona pellucida? A thin acellular membrane secreted by the primary oocyte
within the growing secondary follicle.
16. What is an antrum? A fluid-filled chamber that characterizes a mature tertiary
(antral) follicle.
17. What are tertiary follicles also Gaafian follicles or antral follicles.
known as?
18. What is oogenesis? The process of gametogenesis in females, leading to the
formation of ova.
19. What is the diploid number of 46 chromosomes, or 23 pairs.
chromosomes in human cells?
20. What is the haploid number of 23 chromosomes.
chromosomes in gametes?
21. What are oogonia? Ovarian stem cells formed during fetal development that
divide via mitosis.
22. What happens to primary They are formed and arrested in meiosis I until puberty.
oocytes during fetal develop-
ment?