424 oAv/.iA'N OF REPRODUCTION, 



contain in its meshes the Graafian follicles. These 

 consist of spheric sacs and are present in large numbers 

 from the time of birth to the period of the menopause 

 (change of life). Each follicle consists of an external 

 investment of fibrous tissue and bloodvessels, and 

 an internal investment of cells, the membrana granu- 

 losa. At the lower portion of this membrane there is 

 an accumulation of cells, called the proligerous disk. 

 The cavity of each Graafian follicle contains fluid, 



FIG. 148 



Section of the ovary: 1. Outer covering. 1 . Attached border. 2. Central 

 stroma. 3. Peripheral stroma. 4. Bloodvessels. 5. Graafian follicles in 

 their earliest stage. 6, 7, 8. More advanced follicles. 9. An almost mature 

 follicle. 9'. Follicle from which the ovum has escaped. 10. Corpus luteum. 

 (After Schron.) 



yellowish in color, alkaline, and is composed of albu- 

 minous material. -From the Graafian follicle, and par- 

 ticularly the proligerous disk, the ovum or germ cell 

 is developed. 



The Ovum or Germ Cell. This is a spheric body 

 measuring 0.3 mm. in diameter. It consists of a 

 mass of living protoplasmic material, cytoplasm; 

 a nucleus or germinal vesicle, within which is seen a 

 nucleolus or germinal spot. 



