corpus luteum

American  

[kawr-puhs loo-tee-uhm] / ˈkɔr pəs ˈlu ti əm /

noun

• corpora lutea
  plural

1. Anatomy, Zoology. a ductless gland developed within the ovary by the reorganization of a Graafian follicle following ovulation.

2. Pharmacology. an extract of this gland, usually of the hog or cow, the chief product of which is progesterone.

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corpus luteum British  

/ ˈluːtɪəm /

noun

1. a yellow glandular mass of tissue that forms in a Graafian follicle following release of an ovum. It secretes progesterone, a hormone necessary to maintain pregnancy

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corpus luteum Scientific  

/ lo̅o̅′tē-əm /

• corpora lutea
  plural

1. A yellow mass of cells that forms from a mature ovarian follicle after ovulation and that secretes progesterone. If fertilization of the egg occurs, the corpus luteum persists for the first few months of pregnancy.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• corpora lutea
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of corpus luteum

1780–90; < New Latin: yellow body

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

corpus luteum

When no fertilization takes place, the corpus luteum degenerates and the progesterone level declines, initiating the breakdown of the endometrium and the start of the menstrual cycle.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The follicle becomes a corpus luteum, which eventually degenerates.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

The placenta has taken over the functions of nutrition and waste and the production of estrogen and progesterone from the corpus luteum, which has degenerated.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

When no fertilization takes place, the corpus luteum degenerates and the progesterone level declines, initiating the breakdown of the myometrium and the start of the menstrual cycle.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

When pregnancy does not occur the corpus luteum is formed, but begins to diminish within ten or twelve days in the human species and is then gradually absorbed.

From Hormones and Heredity by J. T. Cunningham

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