Ovarian follicle
Last revised by Tariq Walizai
on 13 Aug 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Radswiki T, Walizai T, Bell D, et al. Ovarian follicle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-15060
rID:
15060
Article created:
19 Sep 2011,
The Radswiki ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created The Radswiki had no recorded disclosures.
View The Radswiki's current disclosures
Last revised:
13 Aug 2024,
Tariq Walizai
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Tariq Walizai's current disclosures
Revisions:
13 times, by
11 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Graafian follicle
- Ovarian follicles
- Graafian follicles
An ovarian follicle (also known as a Graafian follicle in its mature state) is the basic unit of female reproductive biology and is composed of roughly spherical aggregations of cells and contains a single oocyte.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
An ovarian follicle can be initiated to grow and develop, culminating in ovulation of usually a single competent oocyte in humans. Approximately 10 ovarian follicles begin to mature during a normal menstrual cycle and out of these usually one will turn into a dominant ovarian follicle.
During ovulation, the primary follicle forms the secondary follicle and then the mature vesicular follicle. After rupture, the follicle turns into a corpus luteum and eventually involutes to the corpus albicans.
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
Following maturations under the development of gonadotropins, small follicles can be seen as small sonolucent rounded structures around the ovary. In the normal physiological state one of the follicles enlarges to ~1 cm to become a dominant follicle which grows further to ~2.5 cm 1. This is then called an ovarian follicular cyst.
See the 1-2-3 rule.
MRI
Ovarian follicles, as well as follicular cysts, may be seen as rounded structures around the ovary.
Signal characteristics
T2: high signal (as with many fluid-filled entities) 7
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History and etymology
It (the Graafian follicle) is named after Reinier de Graaf (1641-1673), a Dutch physician and anatomist.
References
- 1. Merz E. Ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology, Gynecology. THIEME. (2007) ISBN:3137544025. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Fotter R, Baert AL. Pediatric Uroradiology. Springer Verlag. (2008) ISBN:3540330046. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Hamm B, Forstner R, Beinder E et-al. MRI and CT of the Female Pelvis. Springer Verlag. (2007) ISBN:3540222898. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Semelka RC. Abdominal-Pelvic MRI. Wiley-Blackwell. (2010) ISBN:0470487755. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 5. Hamm B, Krestin G, Laniado M et-al. MR Imaging of the Abdomen and Pelvis. Thieme Medical Pub. (2009) ISBN:3131455918. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 6. Levine D, Brown DL, Andreotti RF, Benacerraf B, Benson CB, Brewster WR, Coleman B, Depriest P, Doubilet PM, Goldstein SR, Hamper UM, Hecht JL, Horrow M, Hur HC, Marnach M, Patel MD, Platt LD, Puscheck E, Smith-Bindman R. Management of asymptomatic ovarian and other adnexal cysts imaged at US: Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Conference Statement. Radiology. 256 (3): 943-54. doi:10.1148/radiol.10100213 - Pubmed
- 7. Stephanie Ryan, Michelle McNicholas, Stephen J. Eustace. Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging. (2011) ISBN: 9780702029714 - Google Books
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