Ovary Model

Quick Answer: An ovary model is an enlarged replica of the human ovary, usually opened or sectioned to show its interior, used to teach how egg cells mature inside follicles, how ovulation occurs and how the corpus luteum forms and then regresses.

Follicles, Ovulation and the Corpus Luteum

The human ovary is roughly the size and shape of an almond, one lying on each side of the uterus beside the open, fringed end of the uterine tube. A section shows an outer cortex packed with follicles and an inner medulla carrying blood vessels and nerves. Enlargement is what makes a model useful here: the stages of follicle growth, which normally need a microscope and a stained slide, become visible at a glance.

Models of the ovary are normally arranged so the monthly cycle can be followed around the section. Primordial follicles, each an oocyte wrapped in flat cells, sit near the surface; primary and secondary follicles show thickening layers of granulosa cells and then a fluid-filled space, the antrum; the mature Graafian follicle bulges at the surface before rupturing to release the secondary oocyte. The empty follicle becomes the yellow corpus luteum, and if no pregnancy occurs it shrinks to a white scar, the corpus albicans.

These structures link directly to hormones: growing follicles release oestrogen under the influence of FSH, a surge of LH triggers ovulation, and the corpus luteum secretes progesterone that prepares the uterine lining. Which stages this particular model shows, and whether it includes the uterine tube, is not stated in the listing. For the organs around the ovary, see the human female genital organs model.

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Handle the ovary model by its base or edges; raised follicles are small and can break off if pressed.
• Remove dust with a small paintbrush, then go over the surface with a cloth that is only just damp; solvents dissolve the painted detail on tiny structures.
• Keep it out of strong light so the colour coding of the follicle stages does not fade.

Applications

• Teaching oogenesis alongside the stages of meiosis in senior-school and college biology
• Explaining the ovarian and menstrual cycles and their hormone control
• Nursing and midwifery lessons on ovulation, fertility and contraception
• Comparing the model with stained ovary sections under a microscope

Why Choose LabEquip

Biology teachers and nursing tutors buy an ovary model to support reproduction topics that students find hard to picture from diagrams alone. It is part of LabEquip’s biology lab products; send questions on scale and the stages shown through the LabEquip contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Graafian follicle?

It is the mature follicle just before ovulation, with a large fluid-filled antrum and the oocyte held on a mound of cells at one side. It can reach about two centimetres across and bulges from the ovary surface before it ruptures.

What happens to the follicle after ovulation?

The cells left behind form the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone and some oestrogen. If pregnancy does not occur it breaks down after about ten to fourteen days, leaving a pale scar called the corpus albicans.

Why do most follicles never ovulate?

Many follicles start growing in each cycle, but usually only one becomes dominant. The rest degenerate by a process called atresia, which is why the number of follicles falls steadily from birth to menopause.

How does the model relate to meiosis?

The oocyte begins meiosis before birth and pauses in prophase I. It completes the first division just before ovulation, producing a secondary oocyte and a small polar body, and finishes the second division only if fertilised.

Which hormones control the ovarian cycle?

FSH from the pituitary stimulates follicle growth and oestrogen release, a surge of LH triggers ovulation, and the corpus luteum then secretes progesterone. Rising oestrogen and progesterone feed back on the brain and pituitary to regulate the cycle.

Is an ovary model suitable for school use?

Yes. It shows reproductive biology at the level of cells and organs, as covered in senior-school and college syllabuses, and helps teachers explain the cycle factually rather than relying only on textbook diagrams.

Last Updated: September 2026