Page 857 - Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations

FIGURE 21.13 | Human Ovary: Section of Corpus

Luteum and Corpus Albicans

This low-magnification micrograph shows a section of a human ovary. On the
left side is a section of the folded wall of the corpus luteum with hypertrophied

and lighter-staining granulosa lutein cells (3, 5) surrounded by darker-staining
theca lutein cells (1, 4) located peripherally and between the folds of the
granulosa lutein cells (3, 5). Surrounding the corpus luteum is the dense

connective tissue layer theca externa (2). On the right side of the figure is the
blue-staining connective tissue scar of the corpus luteum, the corpus albicans
(7) with degenerating corpus luteum (6) above it. Between the corpus luteum
and the corpus albicans (7) is the vascular connective tissue (9) with blood
vessels (8).

FIGURE 21.13 ■ Human ovary: a section of corpus luteum and corpus albicans.
Stain: Mallory-Azan. ×10.5.

FUNCTIONAL CORRELATIONS 21.2 ■ Corpus

Luteum

After the mature follicle liberates the secondary oocyte into the infundibulum
of the uterine tube, the wall of the ruptured mature follicle collapses, and the

ovary enters the luteal phase. During this luteinization phase, luteinizing
hormone (LH) secretion induces hypertrophy and transforms the granulosa
cells and theca interna cells into granulosa lutein cells and theca lutein
cells, respectively, forming a temporary endocrine tissue, the corpus luteum.

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