Äggblåsor

Äggblåsor, also known as ovarian follicles, are fluid-filled sacs within the ovaries of female mammals. Each follicle contains an immature egg cell, or oocyte. The development of these follicles is a crucial part of the female reproductive cycle, a process called folliculogenesis. Throughout a woman's reproductive years, a number of primordial follicles are present, but typically only a select few will mature each menstrual cycle.

The maturation process involves several stages, starting with primordial follicles which develop into primary, secondary, and finally tertiary follicles. As the follicle grows, it produces increasing amounts of estrogen. The largest and most dominant follicle, known as the Graafian follicle, eventually ruptures during ovulation to release the mature egg. If fertilization does not occur, the ruptured follicle transforms into the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone. In some cases, follicles may not develop fully or release an egg, leading to the formation of ovarian cysts. These are generally benign and resolve on their own, but persistent or large cysts may require medical attention.