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Page 5
| The Structure of the Female Reproductive Organs |
| The Ovaries |
| The ovaries, often referred to as the "gonads" in women, are internal structures which are attached to the uterus near the fallopian tubes. They are attached to the uterus by a ligament known as the ovarian ligament. Each of the two ovaries normally found (one on each side of the pelvis) is approximately 3.5 × 2 × 1.5 cm. After menopause, the ovaries tend to get smaller and may measure only 2 × 1 × .5 cm. |
| Each ovary has several layers of tissue. Within one of these layers are tiny follicles which respond to hormonal changes and house the egg before ovulation. The ovaries produce two of the major hormones of the female reproductive cycle: these are estrogen and progesterone. The ovaries will secrete these hormones in response to messages from certain areas of the brain. The hormonal cycle of the human female is complex and there are many interrelationships. Some of these are covered in the next chapter. |
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