THE UROGENITAL SYSTEM 421 



Reproductive Organs: Female 



Ovaries. The ovaries are paired whitish almond-shaped organs from 

 one to two inches in length lying on the sides of the pelvis, usually with 

 the long axis parallel to that of the body. Each ovary is attached by a 

 thick membranous mesovarium to the broad ligament which supports 

 the uterus. The ovary is also attached to the side of the uterus by an 

 ovarian ligament. Another suspensory ligament carrying blood vessels 

 and nerves extends upwards from the ovary along the wall of the pelvis. 



youno ovum 



Miron* j . . 



railattt-v i ^jnr>e.solhel»u.Tn 



V J ^^^ 

 --C:^ V-" "^""^ - — -f^^r^ ..— ^' <''' ^ stra\iim oranatosum 



"iunica, interna, oi thwa 



coaoulkted * i n\ "^^ 



Vvaoftp JolUcuVi' viteWvne "^vasa ^tuwiea txUrna <A Ihcta 



\n anUum membrtine 



Fig. 345. — Drawing of an ovarian (Graafian) follicle approaching maturity, show- 

 ing details of its structure and relations. (From Patten's "Embryology of the 

 Pig.") 



The ovary is covered by a layer of columnar epithehum, which is 

 regarded as a special modification of the peritoneum. Most of the 

 substance of the ovary is a connective-tissue stroma containing some 

 smooth muscle libers. In the cortex are ova in various stages of develop- 

 ment, surrounded by follicle cells. As an ovum approaches maturity, 

 the follicular layer of cells which surrounds it increases in thickness. 

 Eventually, a liquid-filled cavity appears in the follicle and the ovum is 

 crowded to one side. As the folHcular liquid increases, the follicle migrates 

 toward the surface of the ovary. The pressure is finally sufficient to 

 burst the follicle, and the ovum escapes into the uterine tube, the coelomic 

 opening of which, the ostiimi tubae, almost completely surrounds the 

 ovary. Sections of mature ovaries show their Graafian follicles in various 



