Q.Draw a labelled diagram of a section through ovary.

A section through the ovary shows the internal structure in distinct stages. The outermost layer is the germinal epithelium, a thin covering. Just beneath it lies the tunica albuginea, a dense connective tissue layer.

The ovary itself is divided into two main regions:

• The cortex (outer part), which contains ovarian follicles at various stages of development.
• The medulla (inner part), made of loose connective tissue with blood vessels and nerves.

Within the cortex, you must label these structures in order of maturity:

• Primary follicles — an oocyte surrounded by a single layer of granulosa cells.
• Secondary follicles — the oocyte is now surrounded by multiple layers of granulosa cells, and a fluid-filled cavity (antrum) begins to form.
• Graafian follicle — a fully mature follicle with a large antrum, the oocyte pushed to one side, and a stalk of cells (cumulus oophorus) holding it.
• Corpus luteum — a yellowish, glandular structure formed after ovulation from the ruptured follicle. …

The ovary is the primary female reproductive organ, responsible for producing eggs (ova) and secreting hormones like estrogen and progesterone. When we look at a section through the ovary, we are essentially cutting it open to see its internal structure. The ovary is divided into two main regions: the outer cortex and the inner medulla. The cortex is where all the action happens — it contains the ovarian follicles in various stages of growth. The medulla is a central, highly vascular region made of connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves that support the ovary.

Now, let’s walk through the key structures you would label in a diagram of an ovary section.

The outermost layer is the germinal epithelium, a simple cuboidal layer that covers the ovary. Just beneath it lies the tunica albuginea, a dense connective tissue capsule. These are the protective coverings.

Inside the cortex, you will find follicles at different stages. The smallest and most numerous are the primordial follicles. Each consists of a single primary oocyte (an immature egg cell) surrounded by a single layer of flattened follicular cells. As the follicle begins to grow, it becomes a primary follicle, where the follicular cells become cuboidal and start multiplying, forming multiple layers around the oocyte. A clear, non-cellular layer called the zona pellucida also appears around the oocyte at this stage.

As development continues, the follicle becomes a secondary follicle. Here, the follicular cells (now called granulosa cells) secrete fluid that accumulates in small spaces, forming an antrum. The oocyte is pushed to one side, surrounded by a mound of granulosa cells called the cumulus oophorus. The outermost layer of the follicle differentiates into the theca interna and theca externa.

The most mature stage is the Graafian follicle (or tertiary follicle). It is large, fluid-filled, and bulges from the surface of the ovary. The antrum is now a single large cavity, and the oocyte is ready for ovulation. After ovulation, the ruptured follicle transforms into the corpus luteum, a yellowish, glandular structure that secretes progesterone. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates into a fibrous corpus albicans. …