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 spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

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"; : 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 the ...

. As the corpus luteum is being broken down by

macrophage Macrophages (; abbreviated MPhi, φ, MΦ or MP) are a type of white blood cell of the innate immune system that engulf and digest pathogens, such as cancer cells, microbes, cellular debris and foreign substances, which do not have proteins that ...

fibroblast A fibroblast is a type of cell (biology), biological cell typically with a spindle shape that synthesizes the extracellular matrix and collagen, produces the structural framework (Stroma (tissue), stroma) for animal Tissue (biology), tissues, and ...

s lay down type I

collagen Collagen () is the main structural protein in the extracellular matrix of the connective tissues of many animals. It is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up 25% to 35% of protein content. Amino acids are bound together to form a trip ...

, 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 a gonad in the female reproductive system that produces ova; when released, an ovum travels through the fallopian tube/ oviduct into the uterus. There is an ovary on the left and the right side of the body. The ovaries are end ...

. __TOC__

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 The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a part of a transportation system of the eukaryotic cell, and has many other important functions such as protein folding. The word endoplasmic means "within the cytoplasm", and reticulum is Latin for "little n ...

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 ma ...

'' and ''

estrogen Estrogen (also spelled oestrogen in British English; see spelling differences) is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three ...

'' (more progesterone than estrogen during the luteal phase). The '' theca cells'' form mainly the androgens androstenedione and testosterone. These hormones may then be converted 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 man ...

in the granulosa cells into estrogens, including

estradiol Estradiol (E2), also called oestrogen, oestradiol, is an estrogen steroid hormone and the major female sex hormone. It is involved in the regulation of female reproductive cycles such as estrous and menstrual cycles. Estradiol is responsible ...

. 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 Endocrine system anatomy Histology Mammal female reproductive system Pelvis Human female endocrine system