Page 57 - The Miracle of Human Creation

THE ROLE OF THE EGG CELL IN THE FORMATION OF A NEW HUMAN BEING

the breaking of the follicle in which is located the mature egg cell and for
its movement toward the place where it will meet the sperm. The absen-
ce of this hormone will result in the failure of the follicle to progress to the
stage of ovulation, even if there is no deficiency in the secretions of the ot-
her hormones. But this sort of problem does not occur and 2 days before
the ovulation stage, for a reason that scientists are still unable to explain,
there is an increase in the secretion of the LH hormone from the anterior
pituitary gland. At the same stage there is an increase in the FSH hormo-
ne and, by the influence of these two hormones, ovulation occurs regu-
larly every month. In other words, here too the pituitary gland makes an
astounding calculation of time and begins the secretion of the required
hormones at exactly the right time and in the proper quantities.
Of course this conscious activity is not to be expected from the pitu-
itary gland itself or from the cells which make up this gland. Since there
is a superior intelligence and will to be seen here, there is One to Whom
this intelligence and will belong: it is the intelligence and will of God
which reveals itself in all of these wondrous occurrences in the stages of
human creation.
3. The Corpus Luteum (yellow body) – The Luteal Phase: After ex-
pulsion of the egg from the follicle, the empty follicle fills with blood. The-
re are special cells called "granulosa" and "theca" cells, which surround
the empty space where these follicles are located; they multiply and take
the place of the clotted blood in the follicle. These cells accumulate yellow
lipid, and are therefore called lutein cells, from the Latin word luteus,
"saffron-yellow." So, the follicle from which the egg has been released
swells with the fluids which have filled it and becomes an active element
called the corpus luteum (yellow body). The corpus luteum plays an im-
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portant role in the preparation of the uterus for the embryo and in con-
ducting the pregnancy in a healthy manner. The most important
particularity of this element is the secretion of the hormone called proges-
terone under the influence of LH (luteinizing hormone). Progesterone has
an extremely important function in stimulating the walls of the uterus.
The most important change in the uterus occurs in the mucous membra-

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