The ovaries are paired glands located in the upper pelvic cavity on either side of the uterus. Ligaments hold the ovaries in place. Each ovary is surrounded by a layer of squamous to cuboidal epithelium, the germinal epithelium. Beneath the epithelium is the tunica albugninea of dense connective tissue.
The ovarian cortex is the site of follicular development. Follicles contain the developing oocyte with its surrounding, supportive cells. Ova mature in follicles which rupture monthly to release a (secondary) oocyte. Coursing throughout the ovaries, outside the ovarian cortex, is the ovarian medulla which has blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerves.
The Fallopian (uterine) tubes are narrow tubes that extend from the ovaries to the uterus. They do not connect directly with the ovaries. Rather, ova are released into the interstitial space and captured by the fimbriae of the Fallopian tube that sweep the ovulated oocyte into the tube at its infundibulum. Within the tube, cilia carry the ovum toward the uterus.
The central, enlarged region of the tube is the ampulla, where fertilization normally occurs about 24 hours after copulation. Once fertilized, the zygote reaches the uterus in about 7 days.
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