Corpus luteum. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a corpus luteum, or yellow body (brown), in an ovary. The corpus luteum is formed after

---

Corpus luteum. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a corpus luteum, or yellow body (brown), in an ovary. The corpus luteum is formed after ovulation, from the ovarian follicle that released the egg. The function of the corpus luteum is to secrete the hormone progesterone to ready the uterus for the implantation of a fertilised egg. If the egg is not fertilised it stops secreting and degrades after roughly 12 days.

---

Size: 4000px × 3003px
Photo credit: © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anatomy, biological, biology, body, coloured, corpus, endocrine, false-coloured, female, follicle, human, image, images, luteum, magnified, microscopic, ovarian, ovary, progesterone, reproduction, reproductive, secretory, sem, single, subjects, system, yellow