Question

Atreric follicles are found in the
A. Fallopian tubes
B. Uterus
C. Labia majora
D. Ovary

Answer 1

Hint: The follicle that degenerates before attaining maturity is called the atretic follicle. Several atretic follicles are formed in a sexually mature woman every month.

Complete answer:
Follicular maturation is an ongoing process in human females. The site of follicular maturation is the ovary. Only one of the maturing follicles completes the maturation process each month and the rest degenerate into atretic follicles. This process is called follicular atresia.

Additional information:
Follicular atresia is a complex hormonally driven process. This phenomenon involves the process of apoptosis of granulosa cells. Follicular atresia is inhibited by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) since this hormone promotes follicle development. Now, once the follicle has developed, it starts secreting estrogen, which at high levels decreases secretions of FSH. Follicular atresia in women is necessary to maintain a healthy reproductive system. The inability to undergo follicular atresia is associated with the development of some hormone-related cancers and chemo-resistance.
Also, studies in the rat are indicative of the fact that nitrogen oxide prevents atresia of the ovarian follicle and low level has opposite effects.
So, the correct answer is (d) ‘ovary’.

Note:
Follicular atresia occurs continually throughout a woman's life. A woman is born with millions of follicles, but she only ovulates approximately 400 times in her lifetime. This gives us an average of around 20 follicles maturation each month but only a single follicle is ovulated; the follicle from which the oocyte was released becomes the corpus luteum and the rest undergo follicular atresia.