The corpus albicans (

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

for "whitening body"; also known as atretic corpus luteum, corpus candicans, or simply as albicans) is the regressed form of the

corpus luteum The corpus luteum (Latin for "yellow body"; plural corpora lutea) is a temporary endocrine structure in female ovaries involved in the production of relatively high levels of progesterone, and moderate levels of estradiol, and inhibin A. It is t ...

. As the corpus luteum is being broken down by

macrophage Macrophages (abbreviated as M φ, MΦ or MP) ( el, large eaters, from Greek ''μακρός'' (') = large, ''φαγεῖν'' (') = to eat) are a type of white blood cell of the immune system that engulfs and digests pathogens, such as cancer ce ...

fibroblast A fibroblast is a type of biological cell that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen, produces the structural framework ( stroma) for animal tissues, and plays a critical role in wound healing. Fibroblasts are the most common cells ...

s lay down type I

collagen Collagen () is the main structural protein in the extracellular matrix found in the body's various connective tissues. As the main component of connective tissue, it is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up from 25% to 35% of the whol ...

, forming the corpus albicans. This process is called " luteolysis". The remains of the corpus albicans may persist as a scar on the surface of the

ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...

Background

During the first few hours after expulsion of the ovum from the follicle, the remaining granulosa and theca interna cells change rapidly into ''lutein cells''. They enlarge in diameter two or more times and become filled with lipid inclusions that give them a yellowish appearance. This process is called '' luteinization'', and the total mass of cells together is called the ''corpus luteum''. A well-developed vascular supply also grows into the corpus luteum. The ''

granulosa cells A granulosa cell or follicular cell is a somatic cell of the sex cord that is closely associated with the developing female gamete (called an oocyte or egg) in the ovary of mammals. Structure and function In the primordial ovarian follicle, and ...

'' in the corpus luteum develop extensive intracellular smooth endoplasmic reticula that form large amounts of the female sex hormones ''

progesterone Progesterone (P4) is an endogenous steroid and progestogen sex hormone involved in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis of humans and other species. It belongs to a group of steroid hormones called the progestogens and is the majo ...

'' and ''

estrogen Estrogen or oestrogen is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three major endogenous estrogens that have estrogenic hormonal ac ...

'' (more progesterone than estrogen during the luteal phase). The ''

theca cells In biology, a theca (plural thecae) is a sheath or a covering. Botany In botany, the theca is related to plant's flower anatomy. The theca of an angiosperm consists of a pair of microsporangia that are adjacent to each other and share a comm ...

'' form mainly the androgens androstenedione and testosterone. These hormones may then beconverted by

aromatase Aromatase (), also called estrogen synthetase or estrogen synthase, is an enzyme responsible for a key step in the biosynthesis of estrogens. It is CYP19A1, a member of the cytochrome P450 superfamily, which are monooxygenases that catalyze many ...

in the granulosa cells into estrogens, including

estradiol Estradiol (E2), also spelled oestradiol, is an estrogen steroid hormone and the major female sex hormone. It is involved in the regulation of the estrous and menstrual female reproductive cycles. Estradiol is responsible for the development o ...

. The corpus luteum normally grows to about 1.5 centimeters in diameter, reaching this stage of development 7 to 8 days after ovulation. Then it begins to involute and eventually loses its secretory function and its yellowish, lipid characteristic about 12 days after ovulation, becoming the corpus albicans. In the ensuing weeks, this is replaced by connective tissue and over months is reabsorbed.Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (12th Ed) 2011, page number: 991

References

*
corpus albicans
, Stedman's Online Medical Dictionary at Lippincott Williams and Wilkins *

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Corpus Albicans Histology Mammal female reproductive system Pelvis Human female endocrine system