Epithelial ovarian tumors pathophysiology

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hannan Javed, M.D.[2]

Surface epithelium of ovaries

Surface epithelium of ovaries (OSE), once mistakenly referred as germinal epithelium, consists of single layer of flat to cuboidal epithelial cells. It is characterized by keratin types found in simple epithelium and functions in exchange between peritoneal cavity and the ovaries in addition to ovarian cycle.

Embryogenesis

• During embryonic development, surface epithelium of ovaries is a part of celomic epithelium.
• Celomic epithelium itself is derived from mesothelium and forms lining of intraembryonic celom.
• The future surface epithelium of ovaries then forms part of gonadal blastema and then undergoes a transformation cycle, multilayered papillary epithelium develops from simple flat to cuboidal epithelium but reverts back to simple flat to cuboidal epithelium by term.
• It is important to note that ovarian surface epithelium is the part of celomic epithelium that overlies the presumptive gonads and the celomic epithelium in proximity of gonads also gives rise to Mullerian (paramesonephric) ducts, that in future will develop into epthelium of most of the female reproductive tract including oviducts, endometrium and a part of cervix.
• Ovarian surface epithelium has also been postulated to give rise or form a part of ovarian granulosa cells during embryonic development.

Structural characteristics of ovarian surface epithelium in human adults

Cell type	Surface expression	Intercellular connection	Basement membrane
Single layer squamous-to-cuboidal epithelium	Keratin Mucin antigen MUC1 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Cilia	Simple desmosomes Incomplete tight junctions Integrins Cadherins	Loosely attached Tunica albuginea that is less conspicuous of its testicular counterpart