Follicle DevelopmentHormonal regulation of follicles and endometriumMaturation and Attrition of Follicles. This diagram shows the different maturational stages of ovarian follicles. It also shows how each month, you start out with a group of about 50 primordial follicles, and as the follicles pass through each stage, some disappear (this is called attrition). By the time you get to the the last maturational stage – the Graafian follicle – only one follicle remains. This is Beyonce, sitting on her throne (the cumulus oophorus), with her gorgeous crown (the corona radiata). (Full disclosure: this is Dr. Krafts’ drawing.)
General Histology 