Describe the maturation of the oocyte that occurs during ovulation. Is there a pattern that determines which ovary will ovulate during a given mensis; how many oocytes are released per menstrual period?
Each oocyte is surrounded by a cellular jacket or follicle. An oocyte nearly fills its immature follicle. During ovulation, however, the cellular jacket around the egg cell swells creating a large fluid filled cavity. The ooctye, attached to one wall of the follicle by follicular epithelial cells, projects into this cavity. At maturation, the follicle bulges from the side of the ovary, and, at the moment of ovulation, the wall of the follicle bursts expelling both the liquid and the oocyte into the abdominal cavity. Although there is no regular pattern that determines which of the two ovaries will ovulate, only one oocyte is released per menstrual period.
