The process by which a primary follicle or a tertiary follicle stops growing, leading to disappearance (apoptosis) of its follicle cells and the oocyte, or egg, they contain. Such a follicle is called an atretic follicle.

The word for what scientists call programmed cell death, or cellular suicide. This is a normal -- rather altruistic! -- thing for a cell to do, as it purposefully switches on some special genes that then alter its metabolism to dismantle itself and die, for the greater good of the tissue or organ that it's a part of. Pathologists distinguish apoptosis from necrosis. Examples of apoptosis include follicular atresia.

Literally, an absence of nutrition, but in particular the result of such lack in a tissue, which shrinks and loses its normal function. For examples, see endometrial atrophy and follicular atresia. Sometimes the end-result of necrosis.

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).