Final answer:
The claim that there are about 10,000 oocytes at birth is false; a female infant is born with 1-2 million oocytes, which decline to around 40,000 by puberty, and the ovaries secrete estrogen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that there are approximately 10,000 oocytes within the ovaries at birth is false. A female infant is typically born with 1-2 million oocytes in her ovarian follicles. These oocytes are present from birth, and although the majority of them will undergo atresia and die off, about 40,000 immature eggs are left by the time she reaches puberty. The ovaries not only house these eggs but also secrete estrogen, the main female sex hormone.
Furthermore, the process of oogenesis ensures that, beginning from puberty, one egg typically matures each month until a woman reaches middle adulthood. During the reproductive years, ovulation of one follicle roughly every 28 days occurs, which may sometimes result in the release of more than one egg, potentially leading to fraternal twins if both are fertilized.