Physiology of Finfish and Shellfish (2+1)

3.1.8. Female reproductive system

The female ovaries are paired but in some species one of the ovaries may be greatly reduced in size and become non functional. In the elasmobranchs the ovaries are located anteriorly in the body cavity, each ovary being suspended from the dorsal wall of the body cavity by mesenteric tissue known as the mesovarium. Ova are released into the body cavity from the ovary and then enter the oviduct via a funnel like structure.

In many teleosts the ovaries are sac like, hollow paired structures that are continuous with the oviduct. (The wall of the ovary is thick at the time of non breeding season, but at time of breeding it becomes very thin and highly vascular. The ovary wall is made up of 3 layers. 1. Peritonium which is outermost layer.

2. Tunica albuginea middle layer

3. Germinal epithelium innermost layer