Ovaries

Question 1

what are the ovaries?

Answer 1

female gonads

Question 2

where do gonads develop in both males and females?

Answer 2

mesonephric ridge and descend through the abdomen

Question 3

how is the descend of the ovaries different from the testes (both gonads)

Answer 3

ovaries stop in the abdomen
testes descend into the scrotum
(both guided by gubernaculum)

Question 4

what are the ovaries? (attachment)

Answer 4

paired, oval organs attached to the posterior surface of the broad ligament of the uterus by the mesovarium

Question 5

what is the mesovarium?

Answer 5

a (double) fold of peritoneum, continuous with the outer surface of the ovaries

Question 6

what is the function of the mesovarium?

Answer 6

Neurovascular structures enter the hilum of the ovary via the mesovarium

Question 7

what are the main functions of the ovaries?

Answer 7

To produce oocytes

To produce the sex steroid hormones oestrogen and progesterone

Question 8

when are oocytes produced?

Answer 8

in preparation for fertilisation

oocytes = female gametes

Question 9

when are oestrogen and progesterone produced from the ovaries?

Answer 9

in response to FSH and LH (pituitary gonadotrophins)

Question 10

what are the components to the ovaries? (superficial to deep)

Answer 10

3 parts:
surface
cortex
medulla

Question 11

what is the surface of the ovary formed by?

Answer 11

simple cuboidal epithelium, known as germinal epithelium

Question 12

what is the cortex of the ovary comprised of?

Answer 12

The cortex (outer part) of the ovary is largely comprised of a connective tissue stroma

Question 13

function of the CT stroma within the cortex of the ovary?

Answer 13

It supports thousands of follicles

Question 14

what does each primordial follicle contain?

Answer 14

contains an oocyte surrounded by a single layer of follicular cells

Question 15

what is the medulla of the ovary composed of?

Answer 15

The medulla (inner part) is composed of supporting stroma

Question 16

what does the supporting stroma of the medulla contain?

Answer 16

contains a rich neurovascular network which enters the hilum of ovary from the mesovarium

Question 17

what are the ligaments which attach to the ovaries?

Answer 17

Suspensory ligament of ovary

ligament of ovary

Question 18

what is the suspensory ligament of ovary?

Answer 18

fold of peritoneum extending from the mesovarium to the pelvic wall

Question 19

what does the suspensory ligament of ovary contain?

Answer 19

neurovascular structures

Question 20

where does ligament of ovary extend from? to?

Answer 20

extends from the ovary to the fundus of the uterus

Question 21

where does the ligament of ovary continue from the uterus to?

Answer 21

from the uterus to the connective tissue of the labium majus

Question 22

what does the ligament of ovary continue from the uterus to the CT of labium majus as?

Answer 22

as the round ligament of uterus

Question 23

when does ligament of ovary become the round ligament of uterus?

Answer 23

at the fundus of the uterus

prior - from ovary: ligament of ovary, post: to labia majora as round ligament of uterus

Question 24

ovaries blood supply?

Answer 24

ovarian arteries

Question 25

where do ovarian arteries arise?

Answer 25

directly from abdominal aorta

below renal arteries

Question 26

venous drainage of ovaries?

Answer 26

ovarian veins

Question 27

where do ovarian veins drain into?

Answer 27

R ovarian vein - IVC

L ovarian vein - left renal vein

Question 28

lymphatic drainage of ovarian veins?

Answer 28

para-aortic nodes

Question 29

where do nerve supply to ovaries run? enter?

Answer 29

via the suspensory ligament of the ovary with the vasculature, to enter the ovary at the hilum

Question 30

where do ovaries receive innervation from?

Answer 30

The ovaries receive sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibres from the ovarian (sympathetic) and uterine (pelvic) plexuses (parasympathetic)