Final answer:
Follicular ovarian cysts are characterized by follicles lined with granulosa cells, distinguishing them from other types of ovarian cysts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The histologic appearance of follicular ovarian cysts is that of follicles lined by granulosa cells. These cysts represent an imbalance in folliculogenesis, whereby a follicle grows larger than normal but does not ovulate. Instead of the normal process where primordial follicles develop into primary follicles with a single layer of granulosa cells and then into secondary follicles with multiple layers of granulosa cells and a zona pellucida around the primary oocyte, these cysts result from a build-up of fluid. They can be distinguished from other types such as mature teratomas, which contain various tissues like skin, hair, and sebaceous glands, or hemorrhagic cysts, which contain blood clots, or cysts filled with clear serous fluid.