What structure forms after the egg is released during ovulation?

After ovulation, the structure that forms is the corpus luteum. This is a temporary endocrine structure that develops from the remnants of the ovarian follicle following the release of the egg. The primary function of the corpus luteum is to produce hormones, particularly progesterone, which helps prepare the uterine lining for potential implantation of a fertilized egg. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum eventually degenerates, leading to a decrease in hormone levels and the start of menstruation.

The follicle, which is responsible for nurturing the developing egg prior to ovulation, transforms into the corpus luteum after the egg has been released. The zona pellucida, on the other hand, is the thick protective layer surrounding the egg itself and remains intact until fertilization occurs. The Graafian follicle refers to the mature follicle just before ovulation and does not persist after the egg is released; it transitions into the corpus luteum. Thus, the correct identification of the structure that forms specifically after the egg is released points directly to the corpus luteum.