ovary

(noun)

A female reproductive organ, often paired, that produces ova and in mammals secretes the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Related Terms

Examples of ovary in the following topics:

  • Ovaries

    • Ovaries secrete both estrogen and progesterone.
    • The ovaries are tethered to the body wall via the suspensory ligament of the ovary.
    • Usually each ovary takes turns releasing eggs each month.
    • When one ovary is absent or dysfunctional, the other ovary will continue to release eggs each month.
    • Ovaries secrete estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. 

  • Male and Female Gonads

    • The gonads in males are the testes and the gonads in females are the ovaries.
    • The gonads in males are the testes and the gonads in females are the ovaries.
    • Usually each ovary takes turns releasing eggs every month; however, if there was a case where one ovary was absent or dysfunctional then the other ovary would continue providing eggs to be released.
    • Ovaries secrete both estrogen and progesterone.
    • The left ovary is visible above the label ovarian arteries.

  • Ovarian Cysts

    • An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled vacuole within or on an ovary.
    • Some surgeries can be performed to successfully remove the cyst(s) without hurting the ovaries, while others may require removal of one or both ovaries.
    • A polycystic-appearing ovary is diagnosed based on its enlarged size — usually twice normal —with small cysts present around the outside of the ovary.
    • It can be found in women with normal ovaries, and in women with endocrine disorders.
    • An ultrasound is used to view the ovary in diagnosing the condition.

  • Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System

    • The human female reproductive system contains two main parts: the uterus and the ovaries, which produce a woman's egg cells.
    • The vagina is attached to the uterus through the cervix, while the uterus is attached to the ovaries via the fallopian tubes.
    • At certain intervals, the ovaries release an ovum, which passes through the fallopian tube into the uterus.
    • Approximately every month, a process of oogenesis matures one ovum to be sent down the fallopian tube attached to its ovary in anticipation of fertilization.
    • An anatomically female's internal reproductive organs are the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix, and ovary.

  • Female Duct System

    • The Fallopian tubes, or oviducts, connect the ovaries to the uterus.
    • The Fallopian tubes, also known as oviducts, uterine tubes, and salpinges (singular salpinx), are two very fine tubes lined with ciliated epithelia, leading from the ovaries of female mammals into the uterus via the uterotubal junction.
    • These tubes allows passage of the egg from the ovary to the uterus.
    • When an ovum is developing in an ovary, it is encapsulated in a sac known as an ovarian follicle.

  • Ovarian Cancer

    • Ovarian cancer arises from the epithelial layer of the ovary and in some cases, the fallopian tube.
    • Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary.
    • Most (more than 90%) ovarian cancers are classified as "epithelial" and are believed to arise from the surface (epithelium) of the ovary.
    • Since the ovaries and tubes are closely related to each other, it is thought that these fallopian cancer cells can mimic ovarian cancer.
    • The ovaries contain eggs and secrete the hormones that control the reproductive cycle.

  • Menopause

    • Menopause is the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries, usually in a woman's 40's or 50's.
    • The transition from reproductive to non-reproductive is the result of a reduction in female hormonal production by the ovaries.
    • In addition, women who have some sort of functional disorder affecting the reproductive system (e.g., endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, cancer of the reproductive organs) can go into menopause at a younger age than the normal timeframe.
    • An early menopause can be related to cigarette smoking, higher body mass index, racial and ethnic factors, illnesses, chemotherapy, radiation and the surgical removal of the uterus and/or both ovaries.
    • After menopause, estrogen continues to be produced in other tissues, notably the ovaries, but also in bone, blood vessels and even in the brain.

  • Testes

    • The testis is homologous to the ovary in that it produces the male gamete (sperm) while the ovary produces the female gamete (egg).
    • Like the ovaries to which they are homologous, testes are components of both the reproductive system and the endocrine system.

  • Oogenesis

    • The primary follicles form from primordial follicles, which develop in the ovary as a fetus during conception and are arrested in the prophase state of the cellular cycle.
    • The rest are reabsorbed into the ovary.
    • This causes the secondary follicle to develop into a tertiary follicle, which then leaves the ovary 24–36 hours later.

  • Infertility

    • For a woman to conceive, certain things have to happen: intercourse must take place around the time when an egg is released from her ovary; the systems that produce eggs and sperm have to be working at optimum levels; and her hormones must be balanced.
    • Some women are infertile because their ovaries do not mature and release eggs.
    • In this case synthetic FSH by injection or Clomid (Clomiphene citrate) via a pill can be given to stimulate follicles to mature in the ovaries.
    • ART techniques generally start with stimulating the ovaries to increase egg production.
    • After stimulation, the physician surgically extracts one or more eggs from the ovary, and unites them with sperm in a laboratory setting, with the intent of producing one or more embryos.