Ovary
Each ovary is both an exocrine (production of oocytes) and an endocrine (production of estrogen and progesterone) organ. The gland can be divided into an outer cortex and inner medulla. The exterior of the ovary is covered by a serosa with a simple cuboidal epithelium (mesothelium) overlying a band of dense connective tissue, the tunica albuginea. 10x
Serosa >
The serosa (serous membrane or visceral peritoneum) covering the ovary possesses a simple cuboidal, rather than a simple squamous, epithelium. This epithelium is referred to as the germinal epithelium.
Tunica albuginea >
A tunica albuginea of dense connective tissue forms an outer shell beneath the serosa.
Cortex >
The cortex forms the outer zone of the ovary. The cortex contains follicles, the corpus luteum, and the degenerating elements of these two structures, atretic follicles and corpora albicantia (sing. corpus albicans), respectively.
Medulla >
The medulla occupies the center of the ovary and is composed of connective tissue containing blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves that supply the ovary.
Mesovarium >
The ovary is suspended from the broad ligament of the uterus by the mesovarium, through which blood vessels enter and leave the ovary.
Next image >
The next image is similar to that indicated by the outline.
Image source >
This image is taken of a slide in the University of Mississippi collection.
