Ovary
The ovary (pl: ovaries) is the female sex organ that produces ovums in a vertebrate reproductive system.[1]
Unlike the male sex glands, testes, the ovaries are located inside of the body in the abdomen.
The ovaries are apart of the endocrine system, a network in the body that releases hormones into the bloodstream. The hormones released by the ovaries allows the individual to mature through their physical appearance, thoughts, and behavior.[2] The ovaries release sex hormones called estrogens, while males release androgens, mainly testosterone. Within the class of estrogens, a hormone called "estradiol" increases about 8 times the level it was before puberty.[3] Though both males and females have estrogen and androgens, it is the increase of estradiol in girls and testosterone in boys that causes the first physical changes during puberty, which are known as "secondary sex characteristics."
