Mammalian ovary. Light micrograph of a transverse section through a mammalian ovary, the reproductive structure that produces the female sex cells (ova). The ovary is enclosed by outer capsule (deep purple). Under this is the cortex (red-purple) which contains several ovarian follicles (round) in various stages of development. Running through the middle of the ovary is a strand of highly vascular connective tissue called the ovarian medulla. Magnification: x14 when printed at 10 centimetres across.