A layer of cells in an ovarian follicle that surrounds and nourishes the developing egg cell before ovulation.
From Latin granulum meaning 'small grain,' referring to the granular appearance of this tissue under early microscopes. The anatomical term became standard in reproductive biology in the 19th century.
The granulosa cells are like devoted nurses to the developing egg—they feed it, protect it, and send chemical signals that control when it's ready to be released, and problems with these cells can cause infertility.
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