The present study of the maturation of the human ovary is the outgrowth of a former paper (Simkins, '28) in which the development of the gonads was traced to the time of birth. There shall be a slight overlapping of this study and the former one, because birth itself has no discernible effect upon gonogenesis, or even upon the ovary as a whole. The important events in the history of the human ovary are: first, the origin of the ventromedian thickening on the mesonephric body in embryos of 7 mm. Secondly, the differentiation of the indifferent gonad into a testis or an ovary during the second month. Thirdly, the cessation of mitotic division of the gonocytes during the sixth fetal month. And, fourthly, the growth of the ovary from the sixth fetal month to sexual maturity, about the fourteenth year. The present paper shall be limited to that fourth phase.
MATERIALThe series of gonads upon which this study is based is made up of sixty ovaries from the fifth fetal month to birth; ten from birth to the end of the first year, two between birth and the first year, two at two years, one at three years, one at seven years, two at eight years, two at nine, one at thirteen, and three at fourteen. (A partial list, with measurements, is given in table 1.) 'Aided by a grant from the National Besearch Council.
465T H E AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ANATOMY. VOL. 51, XO. 2
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