corpus luteum

noun corpus lu·te·um \ -ˈlü-tē-əm \

Updated on: 6 Apr 2018

Definition of corpus luteum

plural corpora lutea play \-ˈlü-tē-ə\

: a yellowish mass of progesterone-secreting endocrine tissue that forms immediately after ovulation from the ruptured graafian follicle in the mammalian ovary

— abbreviation CL

See corpus luteum defined for kids

Recent Examples of corpus luteum from the Web

After an egg has been released from an ovary, the ovarian follicle collapses to temporarily form the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone, the Mayo Clinic explains.

— korin miller, SELF, "Here's Why Khloe Kardashian Used Hormone Suppositories at the Beginning of Her Pregnancy," 28 Feb. 2018
If the egg is not fertilized, the corpus luteum decays, stops producing progesterone, and the whole cycle starts over again.

— korin miller, SELF, "Here's Why Khloe Kardashian Used Hormone Suppositories at the Beginning of Her Pregnancy," 28 Feb. 2018
After your follicle releases an egg, the empty sac shrinks and becomes a mass of cells called corpus luteum.

— korin miller, SELF, "What to Do If You Think an Ovarian Cyst Burst," 22 Dec. 2017
Doctors put most ovarian cysts into two categories: follicular cysts and corpus luteum cysts.

— korin miller, SELF, "What to Do If You Think an Ovarian Cyst Burst," 22 Dec. 2017
The other main kind of ovarian cyst is a corpus luteum cyst.

— korin miller, SELF, "What to Do If You Think an Ovarian Cyst Burst," 22 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'corpus luteum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of corpus luteum

New Latin, literally, yellowish body

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1788

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

corpus luteum

noun corpus lu·te·um \ -ˈlüt-ē-əm, -lü-ˈtē-əm \

medical Definition of corpus luteum

plural corpora lutea play \-ə\

: a yellowish mass of progesterone-secreting endocrine tissue that consists of pale secretory cells derived from granulosa cells, that forms immediately after ovulation from the ruptured graafian follicle in the mammalian ovary, and that regresses rather quickly if the ovum is not fertilized but persists throughout the ensuing pregnancy if it is fertilized