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Cite this page: Ghofrani M Normal anatomy. PathologyOutlines.com website. http://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/ovarynontumornormal.html. Accessed April 23rd, 2019.
Definition / general
- Paired ovoids on either side of the uterus close to lateral pelvic wall, behind broad ligament, anterior to rectum
Each ovary is connected: - Along its anterior (hilar) margin to posterior aspect of broad ligament by mesovarium (double fold of peritoneum)
- At its medial pole to ipsilateral uterine cornu by utero-ovarian ligament
- At superior aspect of lateral pole to lateral pelvic side wall by infundibulopelvic (suspensory) ligament
- Premenopausal ovaries are each 3 - 5 cm long and weigh 5 - 8 g; size and weight depends on amount of follicular derivatives (cysts and corpora albicantia / lutea); shrink to about half their size after menopause
- Neonates often have cysts, which resolve spontaneously (J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2007;20:397)
- Pink white exterior is initially smooth but gradually becomes more convoluted
- Cystic follicles and corpora lutea may be visible from outside
- Cut section may exhibit three zones: cortex, medulla and hilus, with follicular derivatives usually in the cortex and medulla
- Arterial supply: approximately 10 arterial branches from anastomotic arcade of ovarian artery (branch of aorta) and ovarian branch of uterine artery penetrate hilus into medulla and cortex
- Venous drainage: left ovarian vein drains to left renal vein, right ovarian vein drains to inferior vena cava
- Lymphatic drainage: originates predominantly from theca layer of follicles, exiting through the hilus, to the mesovarium, along the infundibulopelvic ligament, into upper paraaortic lymph nodes; may bypass to internal iliac, external iliac, common iliac, sacral, obturator, pelvic, retroperitoneal or inguinal nodes
- Function first described by Reinier de Graaf (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2000;124:1115)
- Ovulation: induces cyclic rupture and regenerative repair of the ovarian surface epithelium
Diagrams / tables
Drawing
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Drawings
Clinical images
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Ovary about to release an egg
Additional references
