Findings

In this image, primordial and primary follicles are seen in the ovarian stroma of the cortex. Note also an atretic follicle at the upper left.

Comment

At any point in the maturation of an ovarian follicle, degeneration can occur, yielding an atretic follicle. In the follicle in this image, all that remains is the zona pellucida, described in the next image.

Preparation

Paraffin section, hematoxylin and eosin

View

Medium-power light microscopy

Specimen

Ovary

Image Credit

Katsumi M. Miyai, M.D., Ph.D
Department of Pathology
School of Medicine
University of California, San Diego