ovulation

• Ovulation


  The release of a mature egg from the ovary
• Egg production in humans

  • Occurs before birth
  • A girl is born with about 2 million eggs
  • At puberty, hormonal changes prompt eggs to mature, one at a time, in an approximately twenty eight-day ovarian cycle
• Ovarian cycle


  1. Follicle enlarges

  2. Fluid filled cavity forms around it

  3. About two weeks after the follicle began to mature, its wall ruptures and ovulation occurs

  4. Egg and surrounding follicle cells are ejected into the adjacent oviduct

  5. Cells of the ruptured follicle develop into a hormone-secreting corpus luteum

  6. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum breaks down, and a new follicle will begin to mature