A human female is born with a million of eggs (primary oocyte) at the time of birth but only some `500` eggs get a chance of maturiy. What is the destiny of rest of the eggs?

Options

A. Rest of the eggs differrentiate back to thecal and granulosa cells.
B. Rest of the eggs nurture the dominant follicular cell.
C. Rest of the eggs move out of the ovary and are destroyed by leucocytes.
D. Rest of the eggs break down and are abosorbed i.e., degenerative follicular atresia.

Answer

D

Explanation

The total numbe of follicles in two ovaries of a normal young adult woman is about four lakhs but only about `500` eggs reach maturity because many ovarian follicles (during primary oocyte stage) undergo degeneration. This degenerative process of follicles is called follicular atresia and such follicles are known as atretic follicles.