Sárgatestet

Sárgatestet translates to corpus luteum in English. It is a temporary endocrine structure that forms in the ovary of female mammals after ovulation. The corpus luteum is essential for establishing and maintaining pregnancy.

Following the release of an egg from a follicle during ovulation, the remaining follicular cells in the ovary undergo a transformation. These cells enlarge and accumulate lipids, forming the corpus luteum. Its primary function is to produce progesterone, a hormone crucial for preparing the uterus for pregnancy. Progesterone thickens the uterine lining, making it receptive to a fertilized egg, and also prevents further ovulation during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

If fertilization and implantation occur, the developing embryo will produce a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG signals the corpus luteum to continue producing progesterone, thus maintaining the pregnancy. If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum will degenerate approximately 10-14 days after ovulation, leading to a drop in progesterone levels. This decline triggers menstruation, the shedding of the uterine lining. The corpus luteum then regresses and becomes a scar tissue called the corpus albicans.