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The resting, unstimulated stage of the follicle, in which the egg (as a primary oocyte) is enclosed by just a few thinly stretched follicle cells. Primordial follicles persist in the ovary from fetal life to the time of menopause, declining in number every day during this time, as some start to develop into primary follicles, most of which then are lost through the process of follicular atresia. What the stimulus or signal is for a particular primordial follicle to start growing remains completely unknown (it is independent of FSH)
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