germinal epithelium (female) germinal epithelium (female) the ovarian surface epithelium, also called the germinal epithelium of waldeyer, or coelomic epithelium is a layer of simple squamous-to-cuboidal epithelial cells covering the ovary. germinal epithelium (female)section of the ovary. 1. germinal epithelium. 2. central stroma. 3. peripheral stroma. 4. bloodvessels. 5. vesicular follicles in their earliest stage. 6, 7, 8. more advanced follicles. 9. an almost mature follicle. 9'. follicle from which the ovum has escaped. 10. corpus luteum.identifiersfma18629anatomical terminology this article is part of a series onepithelia squamous epithelial cell simple stratified columnar epithelial cell simple stratified pseudostratified cuboidal epithelial cell simple stratified specialised epithelia olfactory respiratory intestinal transitional vaginal germinal female male other table of epithelia of human organs the term germinal epithelium is a misnomer as it does not give rise to primary follicles. composition these cells are derived from the mesoderm during embryonic development and are closely related to the mesothelium of the peritoneum. the germinal epithelium gives the ovary a dull gray color as compared with the shining smoothness of the peritoneum; and the transition between the mesothelium of the peritoneum and the cuboidal cells which cover the ovary is usually marked by a line around the anterior border of the ovary. diseases ovarian surface epithelium can give rise to surface epithelial-stromal tumor.