53. Female reproductive system. Uterine tubes (oviducts). Embryonic development. Macroscopic, mi-croscopic, ultramicroscopic and functional characteristics. Blood and nerve supply.

OVARY

• The main organ.
• The ovary is the female genital gland
• Size 4 x 2
• Located in the pelvis
• Intraperitoneum (suspended by a mesentry "the mesovarium")
• The ovary contains oocytes within follicles, undergoing the process of maturation
• Produces various steroids and polypeptide hormones.
• Shape: almond-shaped
• The ovaries develop high on the Posterior abdominal wall and then descend before birth bringing with them their vessels, lymphatics and nerves.
• They become rough over time.

External Structure:

1. Medial surface (facies medialis) – faces the pelvic viscera
2. Lateral surface (facies lateralis) – lies on the lateral wall of the lesser pelvis
3. Mesovarian border (margo mesovaricus) – the anterior margin facing the peritoneal fold of the ovary
4. 3.1 Hilum of ovary (hilum ovarii) – a slit through which the ovarian vessels and nerves enter the ovarian parenchyma
5. Free border (margo liber) – the posterior free margin
6. Tubal extremity (extremitas tubaria) – the upper pole facing the abdominal opening of the uterine tube
7. Uterine extremity (extremitas uterina) – the lower pole facing the uterine horn