What Are the Main Functions of Ovaries in the Female Reproductive System?
The ovaries can be defined as oval-shaped, small glands, the location of which are on the different sides of the female uterus. The ovary function is important for the female reproductive system to work properly since these are the organs that tend to produce eggs as well as other hormones in the female body.
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These organs are located in the pelvic region. The ovary is responsible for housing the ova or the egg. In this article, students are going to learn about the ovary function and structure of this important reproductive organ in females.
Anatomy of Ovary
Human females from the moment they are born have two different ovaries that tend to stem from the female uterus. Before reaching puberty, ovaries have the structure of several tissue bundles that are long. However, with the maturation in females, the ovaries tend to mature as well.
The anatomy of ovary states that these are bilateral in nature and have a flattened shape. The shape of the ovary mostly resembles that of an egg and it is also intraperitoneal. The ovaries tend to have a long shape and they are wide as well. However, the size of the ovaries is pretty small when compared to the male organs of reproduction. There are some superior as well as inferior poles present in the ovaries along with an anterior, medial, lateral, and posterior surface as well.
Surrounding the female gonads is a specific kind of connective tissue which is called tunica albuginea. The location of the tissue is deeper into the superficial sheath that is present in the cuboidal epithelium. There is also a particular cortical layer that is present in the capsule of the ovary that houses the ovarian follicles. The vascular medulla is the third layer that lies exactly beneath the ovary’s cortex. The details about the anatomy of the ovary also help in learning more about the ovary function and structure.
Ovary Function in Humans
The ovaries in the female reproductive system have a variety of functions but three amongst them are the most prominent. First of all, the ovaries tend to protect the eggs and provide shelter to these eggs that females are born with. The eggs stay in the ovaries until they are matured and ready to use. Women are not born with an unlimited supply of eggs, like the men who never run out of sperm cells. Hence, it is important to store these eggs so that nothing goes to waste.
Another main objective of the regulation of ovarian function is that these create the female reproductive hormones such as progesterone and estrogen. These organs also tend to produce some other hormones which are not that well-known to people such as inhibin and relaxin. Estrogen is divided into three different types that include estriol, estradiol, and estrone. These hormones are essential for the female body to develop different female characteristics when the body reaches adulthood such as larger hips and breasts. Not to mention that these hormones also have a very important role to play in the facilitation of the reproductive cycle. Apart from estrogen, progesterone is also essential for the female reproductive cycle. Relaxin is the hormone that helps in loosening the ligaments of the pelvic region which tend to stretch during the period of labour in childbirth. Inhibin is a hormone that assists the female body by obstructing the pituitary gland to produce hormones.
The facts of ovaries state that the third function of the ovaries is to release just one egg (sometimes more) with every single menstrual cycle. This is a process that is called ovulation. Inside the ovaries, there are certain follicles that tend to have an egg that is dormant. Each follicle has one egg. With the birth of a female, there are about 150000 to 500000 eggs that are stored in every single one of the follicles. Until the time a female reaches maturity, these eggs tend to be stored in the ovaries. When the particular get stimulation due to the maturity of the hormones, it is released from the ovary and reaches the fallopian tubes. Thus, until then, the ovaries serve as the house for the eggs. The number of eggs that are released by the ovary actually decides the number of embryos that are formed.
Conclusion
The ovaries tend to form one of the essential organs of the female reproductive system. The ovary function can be justified with the fact that these help in the storing and sheltering of the eggs as well as the production of the female hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, inhibin, and relaxin. With the help of this article, students can learn more about the function of ovaries and their structure.
FAQs on Ovaries: Anatomy, Structure and Functions Explained
1. What are the ovaries and where are they located in the body?
The ovaries are the primary female reproductive organs, responsible for producing eggs (ova) and hormones. A female has two ovaries, which are small, almond-shaped glands. They are located in the pelvic cavity, one on each side of the uterus, to which they are attached by ligaments.
2. What are the two main functions of the ovaries as explained in biology?
The ovaries have two principal functions that are crucial for reproduction and female physiology:
- Gametogenic Function (Oogenesis): This is the production, maturation, and storage of female gametes, known as ova or eggs. Each month during the reproductive years, one ovum is typically released in a process called ovulation.
- Endocrine Function: This involves the secretion of key female sex hormones. The primary hormones are estrogen and progesterone, which regulate the menstrual cycle, support pregnancy, and are responsible for the development of female secondary sexual characteristics.
3. What are the key hormones produced by the ovaries and what do they do?
The ovaries produce several important hormones, each with a specific role:
- Estrogen: Responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics (like breast development), maturation of the reproductive organs, and regulating the menstrual cycle by building up the uterine lining.
- Progesterone: Primarily functions to prepare the uterus for pregnancy after ovulation and helps maintain the early stages of pregnancy.
- Inhibin and Activin: These hormones work to regulate the production of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland.
- Relaxin: Produced during pregnancy, it helps to relax the pelvic ligaments in preparation for childbirth.
4. How does the internal structure of an ovary support its dual functions of egg production and hormone secretion?
The ovary's structure is perfectly adapted for its dual roles. It is divided into two main regions:
- The outer ovarian cortex is the functional powerhouse. It contains thousands of ovarian follicles, which are sacs that house the developing eggs (oocytes). This is where oogenesis occurs. The cells of these follicles (theca and granulosa cells) are also responsible for producing estrogen.
- The inner ovarian medulla is a supportive core made of connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves. Its rich blood supply delivers nutrients and oxygen to the active cortex and transports the hormones produced by the cortex into the bloodstream.
5. What is the difference between the ovarian cortex and the ovarian medulla?
The primary difference between the ovarian cortex and medulla lies in their structure and function. The ovarian cortex is the dense, outer layer that contains all the ovarian follicles and is the site of egg development (oogenesis). In contrast, the ovarian medulla is the central, inner region composed of loose connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves, which primarily serves a supportive role by nourishing the cortex.
6. What is an ovarian follicle and why is it considered the structural and functional unit of the ovary?
An ovarian follicle is a small, fluid-filled sac located within the ovarian cortex that contains an immature egg, or oocyte. It is considered the structural and functional unit because it performs both of the ovary's main jobs within a single structure: it provides the microenvironment for the egg to mature (gametogenesis), and its cells are responsible for producing the essential sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone (endocrine function).
7. How do the ovaries change from birth through menopause?
The ovaries undergo significant changes throughout a female's lifespan. At birth, the ovaries contain a fixed number of primordial follicles, which remain dormant. At puberty, hormonal changes cause these follicles to begin maturing and releasing eggs cyclically (ovulation). During the reproductive years, this cycle continues. Finally, at menopause, the supply of viable follicles is depleted, causing ovulation and menstruation to cease and hormone production to decline significantly.
