Anatomic Nomenclature and 3D Regional Model of the Human Ovary: Call for a New Paradigm

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 2022-09, Vol.228 (3), p.270-275.e4
• Main Authors: O’NEILL, Kathleen E, MAHER, Jacqueline Y, LARONDA, Monica M, DUNCAN, Francesca E, LEDUC, Richard D, LUJAN, Marla E, OKTAY, Kutluk H, POUCH, Alison M, SEGARS, James H, TSUI, Elizabeth L, ZELINSKI, Mary B, HALVORSON, Lisa M, GOMEZ-LOBO, Veronica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.09.040

The ovaries are the female gonads that are critical for reproduction, steroid production, and overall health. Historically, the ovary was broadly divided into regions defined as the cortex, the medulla, and the hilum. This current nomenclature lacks specificity and fails to account for the significant anatomic variations in the ovary. Recent technological advances in imaging modalities and high-resolution omic analyses have precipitated the need for revision of the existing definitions, which will facilitate integration of generated data and enable characterization of organ subanatomy and function at the cellular level. Creation of these high-resolution multimodal maps of the ovary will enhance collaboration and communication among disciplines and between clinicians and researchers. Beginning in March 2021, the Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology program of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development invited subject matter experts to participate in a series of workshops and meetings to standardize ovarian nomenclature and define the organ’s features. The goal was to develop a spatially defined and semantically consistent terminology of the ovary to support collaborative, team-science–based endeavors aimed at generating reference atlases of the human ovary. The group recommended a standardized, 3-dimensional description of the ovary as well as an ontological approach to the subanatomy of the ovary and definition of follicles. This new greater precision in nomenclature and mapping will better reflect the ovary’s heterogeneous composition and function, support the standardization of tissue collection, facilitate functional analyses, and enable clinical and research collaborations. The conceptualization process and outcomes of the effort, which spanned the better part of 2021 and early 2022, are introduced in this article. The Institute and the workshop participants encourage researchers and clinicians to adopt the new systems in their everyday work to advance the overarching goal of improving human reproductive health. An NICHD-led effort proposes the use of a region-based model and standardized ovarian anatomy nomenclature to enhance clinical care and advance reproductive health research.