the release of an egg cell is called
Ovarian follicle An ovarian follicle is a roughly spheroid cellular aggregation set found in the ovaries. It secretes hormones that influence stages of the menstrual cycle. Women begin puberty with about 400,000 follicles,[1] each with the potential to release an egg cell (ovum) at ovulation for fertilization.[2] These eggs are developed once every menstrual cycle.