ovarian follicle

follicle /fol·li·cle/ (fol´ĭ-k'l) a sac or pouchlike depression or cavity.follic´ular

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atretic ovarian follicle  an involuted ovarian follicle.

dominant ovarian follicle  the growing ovarian follicle in a given menstrual cycle that matures completely and forms the corpus luteum.

gastric follicles  lymphoid masses in the gastric mucosa.

graafian follicles  vesicular ovarian f's; maturing ovarian follicles among whose cells fluid has begun to accumulate, leading to the formation of a single cavity and leaving the oocyte located in the cumulus oophorus.

hair follicle  one of the tubular invaginations of the epidermis enclosing the hairs, and from which the hairs grow.

Folliculus pili (hair follicle). (A), Longitudinal section, comprising the infundibulum, isthmus, stem, and bulb; (B), transverse section of follicle, showing the hair shaft and surrounding follicular sheaths.

intestinal follicles  see under gland.

lingual follicles  nodular masses of lymphoid tissue at the root of the tongue, constituting the lingual tonsil.

lymph follicle , lymphatic follicle

1. lymph node.

2. lymphatic nodule (2).

Naboth's follicles , nabothian follicles cystlike formations due to occlusion of the lumina of glands in the mucosa of the uterine cervix, causing them to be distended with retained secretion.

ovarian follicle  the oocyte and its encasing cells, at any stage in its development.

primary ovarian follicles  immature ovarian follicles, each comprising an immature oocyte and the specialized epithelial cells (follicle cells) surrounding it.

primordial ovarian follicle  an immature ovarian follicle that has not undergone recruitment and consists of an oocyte enclosed by a single layer of cells.

sebaceous follicle  a hair follicle with a relatively large sebaceous gland, producing a relatively insignificant hair.

solitary follicles  small lymph follicles scattered throughout the mucosa and submucosa of the small intestine.

thyroid follicles  discrete, cystlike units of the thyroid gland that are lined with cuboidal epithelium and are filled with a colloid substance, about 30 to each lobule.

vesicular ovarian follicles  graafian f's.

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ovarian follicle

n.

A cavity in the ovary containing a maturing ovum surrounded by its encasing cells.

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ovarian follicle

Etymology: L, ovum + folliculus, small bag

a cavity or recess in an ovary containing a liquor that divides the follicular cells into layers and surrounds an ovum.

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follicle

a sac or pouchlike depression or cavity.

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atretic follicle

an involuted ovarian follicle.

conjunctival follicle

focal accumulations of hypertrophied lymphoid tissue in conjunctiva, indicative of an inflammatory reaction.

cystic follicle

ovarian follicle that has not ruptured, is grossly enlarged, may be multiple and on both ovaries. Caused by insufficient luteinizing hormone. Affected cows may be nymphomaniac in behavior, but most are anestrous and anovulatory. See also cystic ovarian degeneration.

dental follicle

the structure within the substance of the jaws enclosing a tooth before its eruption; the dental sac and its contents.

dominant follicle

in the ovary, hormones secreted by the largest follicle will cause others to regress.

gastric follicle

lymphoid masses in the gastric mucosa.

graafian follicle

a maturing ovarian follicle among whose cells fluid has begun to accumulate, leading to the formation of a single cavity and leaving the ovum located in the cumulus oophorus; called also vesicular ovarian follicle.

hair follicle

see hair follicle.

hemorrhagic follicle

see corpus hemorrhagicum.

lymph follicle, lymphatic f

1. a small collection of actively proliferating lymphocytes in the cortex of a lymph node.

2. a small collection of lymphoid tissue in the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract; such collections may occur singly (solitary lymphatic follicle) or closely packed together (aggregated lymphatic follicles).

ovarian follicle

the ovum and its encasing cells, at any stage of its development.

primary ovarian follicle

an immature ovarian follicle consisting of an immature ovum and the few specialized epithelial cells surrounding it.

primordial follicle

an ovarian follicle consisting of an ovum enclosed by a single layer of cells.

sebaceous follicle

a hair follicle with a relatively large sebaceous gland, producing a relatively insignificant hair.

solitary follicle

1. areas of concentrated lymphatic tissue in the mucosa of the colon.

2. small lymph follicles scattered throughout the mucosa and submucosa of the small intestine. Called also solitary glands.

thyroid follicle

discrete cystlike units filled with a colloid substance, constituting the lobules of the thyroid gland.

vesicular ovarian follicle

graafian follicle.

wool follicle

site of origin of wool fiber.

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ovarian

pertaining to an ovary.

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ovarian agenesis

one or both ovaries absent; usually accompanies defects of the tubular reproductive organs.

ovarian anomaly

includes ovarian dysgenesis (see below), agenesis (above) or hypoplasia, as in Swedish Highland cattle.

ovarian bursa

a pouch formed by the mesosalpinx and the mesovarium that encloses the infundibulum of the uterine tube and the ovary. It is shallow in the mare and does not enclose the ovary. It is capacious in sows and deep with a fat-filled wall in the bitch.

ovarian bursitis

inlammation of the ovarian bursa; likely to affect the function of the ovary and ovulation.

ovarian cycle

the cycle of follicle maturation and rupture, then luteinization and regression of the corpus luteum followed by recommencement of the cycle, unless pregnancy intervenes.

ovarian cyclicity

the regular appearance of estrus as an indication of the regular occurrence of estrous cycles.

ovarian cyst

see cystic ovarian disease (below).

cystic ovarian degeneration

persistent cysts derived from ovarian follicles which do not ovulate. Follicular cysts are thin-walled and fluctuant, and often multiple. Luteal cysts have a thick wall of luteal tissue about the cyst, are firm to palpate and do not rupture easily. There is abnormal estral behavior, either anestrus or nymphomania, and diminished fertility.

Cystic corpora lutea form after ovulation has occurred and do not interfere with reproduction. They have a characteristic ovulation papilla.

cystic ovarian disease

common disease of cows, less common in sows, characterized by gross abnormalities of estrus, either anestrus or more frequent and prolonged. In cows the cysts can be palpated per rectum.

ovarian dysgenesis

small, inactive ovaries lacking germ cells such as occur in mares lacking a second X chromosome.

ovarian follicle

see ovarian follicle.

follicular ovarian cyst

see cystic follicle.

ovarian hormones

estrogens, progesterone.

ovarian hypoplasia

functional hypoplasia in immature females and undernourished females of all ages are common findings; in the absence of these risk factors hypoplasia is genetic in origin in Swedish Highland and possibly white Ayrshire cattle.

ovarian imbalance

an alternative name of endocrine dermatoses caused by abnormalities of ovarian function in bitches. Type I, associated with cystic ovaries or functional ovarian tumors, consists of a bilaterally symmetrical alopecia, gynecomastia, enlargement of the vulva, and abnormalities of the estrous cycle. Type II is a bilaterally symmetrical alopecia, sometimes with seborrhea, in spayed bitches. It is responsive to treatment with estrogen. Called also estrogen-responsive dermatosis.

ovarian inflammation

see oophoritis.

intrafollicular ovarian hemorrhage

hemorrhage into an ovarian follicle occurs in all species during ovulation; also rarely in anovulatory follicles.

luteal ovarian cyst

see luteal cyst.

luteinized ovarian cyst

see luteal cyst.

ovarian neoplasms

includes mostly granulosa cell tumors, but also rarely carcinomas, fibromas, thecomas, sarcomas.

ovarian pain

a rare cause of colic in mares; identifiable by eliciting pain by rectal palpation of ovary.

premature ovarian failure

defective differentiation of ovarian tissue and the patient shows no signs of pubertal estrus until long past the customary age.

ovarian rebound

return of cyclical ovarian activity after a period of inactivity, usually pregnancy and parturition.

ovarian remnant syndrome

the return of estral activity in a desexed female; due to failure to remove all of the ovarian tissue or to dropping, and allowing to implant, a piece of the ovary.

rete ovarii ovarian cyst

a convoluted system of epithelial cell cords and tubules occupying part of the ovarian medulla; the cysts are found mostly in the hilar region of the ovary.

ovarian serous inclusion cyst

similar in size and appearance to, but distinguishable from, ovarian cysts by their intraovarian position; lined by cuboidal epithelium thought to be pinched off from indentations of surface epithelium.

tubular epithelial ovarian cyst

formed from epithelial cells from the surface of the ovary.