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Germinal epithelium (female)
Encyclopedia
The surface of the ovary
is covered by a layer of simple cuboidal cells
which constitutes the germinal epithelium of Waldeyer.
These cells are derived from the mesoderm
during embryonic development and are closely related to the mesothelium
of the peritoneum
. The germinal epithelium gives the ovary a dull gray color as compared with the shining smoothness of the peritoneum
; and the transition between the mesothelium
of the peritoneum and the columnar cells which cover the ovary is usually marked by a line around the anterior border of the ovary.
The germinal epithelium is a misnomer and does not give rise to primary follicles. It is known to give rise to ovarian tumors.
Ovary
The ovary is an ovum-producing reproductive organ, often found in pairs as part of the vertebrate female reproductive system. Ovaries in anatomically female individuals are analogous to testes in anatomically male individuals, in that they are both gonads and endocrine glands.-Human anatomy:Ovaries...
is covered by a layer of simple cuboidal cells
Simple cuboidal epithelium
Simple cuboidal epithelia are epithelial cells in a single layer of cubelike cells with large, spherical central nuclei. Simple cuboidal epithelia are found on the surface of ovaries, the lining of nephrons, the walls of the renal tubules, and parts of the eye and thyroid.On these surfaces, the...
which constitutes the germinal epithelium of Waldeyer.
These cells are derived from the mesoderm
Mesoderm
In all bilaterian animals, the mesoderm is one of the three primary germ cell layers in the very early embryo. The other two layers are the ectoderm and endoderm , with the mesoderm as the middle layer between them.The mesoderm forms mesenchyme , mesothelium, non-epithelial blood corpuscles and...
during embryonic development and are closely related to the mesothelium
Mesothelium
The mesothelium is a membrane that forms the lining of several body cavities: the pleura , peritoneum and pericardium . Mesothelial tissue also surrounds the male internal reproductive organs and covers the internal reproductive organs of women...
of the peritoneum
Peritoneum
The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs — in amniotes and some invertebrates...
. The germinal epithelium gives the ovary a dull gray color as compared with the shining smoothness of the peritoneum
Peritoneum
The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom — it covers most of the intra-abdominal organs — in amniotes and some invertebrates...
; and the transition between the mesothelium
Mesothelium
The mesothelium is a membrane that forms the lining of several body cavities: the pleura , peritoneum and pericardium . Mesothelial tissue also surrounds the male internal reproductive organs and covers the internal reproductive organs of women...
of the peritoneum and the columnar cells which cover the ovary is usually marked by a line around the anterior border of the ovary.
The germinal epithelium is a misnomer and does not give rise to primary follicles. It is known to give rise to ovarian tumors.