corpus luteum

noun

A yellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in mammals; it secretes steroid hormones.

OriginLatin corpus →
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Meanings

nouncorpus luteum (plural corpora lutea)

plural corpora lutea

  1. anatomyA yellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in mammals; it secretes steroid hormones.

    The role of the corpus luteum in the oestrous cycle and in pregnancy was shown in 1929 by G. W. Corner (1889–1981) and Willard Allen (1904–93) to depend on a hormone named progestin, later called progesterol.

    1997, Roy Porter, The Greatest Benefit to Mankind, Folio Society, published 2016, page 546

Origin

  1. Latincorpus“body”
  2. Englishcorpus luteum

From Latin corpus (“body”) + lūteum (“yellow”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 黃體 /黄体
  • 黃體 /黄体 (huángtǐ)yellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
Finnish keltarauhanen
  • keltarauhanenyellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
German Gelbkörper
  • Gelbkörperyellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
Greek ωχρό σωμάτιο
  • ωχρό σωμάτιο (ochró somátio)yellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
Hungarian sárgatest
  • sárgatestyellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
Italian corpo luteo
  • corpo luteoyellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
Japanese 黄体
  • 黄体 (ōtai)yellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
Malay korpus luteum
  • korpus luteumyellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
Polish ciałko żółte
  • ciałko żółteyellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
Russian жёлтое те́ло
  • жёлтое те́ло (žóltoje télo)yellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
Spanish cuerpo lúteo
  • cuerpo lúteoyellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
Swedish gulkropp
  • gulkroppyellow mass of cells that forms from an ovarian follicle
Cite this entry
APA

corpus luteum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/corpus%20luteum

MLA

“corpus luteum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/corpus%20luteum. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “corpus luteum,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/corpus%20luteum.

Source: corpus luteum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.