Skip to main content

Follicular Development

Meaning

The intricate, cyclical process within the ovary where an immature primordial follicle matures through various stages—primary, secondary, and tertiary (Graafian)—culminating in the release of a fertilizable ovum. This process is exquisitely controlled by the fluctuating levels of pituitary gonadotropins, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and ovarian steroids. Proper follicular development is the cornerstone of female reproductive health and fertility.