What role do the follicles in the ovary play in the endocrine system? Solution Ans: · An ovarian follicle is a roughly spheroid cellular aggregation set found in the ovaries. It secretes hormones that influence stages of the menstrual cycle. Women begin puberty with about 400,000 follicles, each with the potential to release an egg cell (ovum) at ovulation for fertilization. These eggs are developed only once every menstrual cycle. · The ovaries are the site of production and periodical release of egg cells, the female gametes.When the oocyte finishes its maturation in the ovary, a surge of luteinizing ghormone secreted by the pituitary gland stimulates the release of the oocyte through the rupture of the follicle, a process called ovulation. · Ovarian follicles are the basic units of female reproductive biology. Each of them contains a single oocyte (immature ovum or egg cell). These structures are periodically initiated to grow and develop, culminating in ovulation of usually a single competent oocyte in humans They also consist of granulosa cells and theca of follicle. · The ovarian follicles, sometimes called graafian follicles, are rounded enclosures for the developing ova in the cortex near the surface of the ovary. At birth and in childhood they are present as numerous primary or undeveloped ovarian follicles. Each contains a primitive ovum, or oocyte, and each is covered by a single layer of flattened cells. As many as 700,000 primary follicles are contained in the two ovaries of a young female. Most of these degenerate before or after puberty. · Means follicles play an important role in maintaining the puberty in females by secreting several harmones (When there are no more follicles or eggs, the ovary no longer secretes the hormones oestrogen and progesterone which regulate the menstrual cycle. As a result, menstruation ceases). · In the ovary, all eggs are initially enclosed in a single layer of cells known as a follicle which supports the egg. Over time, these eggs begin to mature so that one is released from the ovary in each menstrual cycle. As the eggs mature, the cells in the follicle rapidly divide and the follicle becomes progressively larger..