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Menstrual cycle The menstrual cycle is a series of natural changes in hormone production and the structures of the uterus and ovaries of the female reproductive system that makes pregnancy possible. The ovarian cycle controls the production and release of eggs and the cyclic release of estrogen and progesterone. The uterine cycle governs the preparation and maintenance of the lining of the ...
The uterus or womb is the major female reproductive organ. The uterus provides mechanical protection, nutritional support, and waste removal for the developing embryo (weeks 1 to 8) and fetus (from week 9 until the delivery). In addition, contractions in the muscular wall of the uterus are important in pushing out the fetus at the time of birth.
Ovulation marks the end of the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle, and the start of the luteal phase. Ovulation is the release of egg cells from the ovaries as part of the ovarian cycle for most vertebrates. In women, this event occurs at the end of the follicular phase, when the ovarian follicles rupture and release the secondary oocyte ...
Diagram illustrating how the uterus lining builds up and breaks down during the menstrual cycle Menstruation (also known as a period, among other colloquial terms) is the regular discharge of blood and mucosal tissue from the inner lining of the uterus through the vagina. The menstrual cycle is characterized by the rise and fall of hormones. Menstruation is triggered by falling progesterone ...
The egg cell or ovum (pl.: ova) is the female reproductive cell, or gamete, [1] in most anisogamous organisms (organisms that reproduce sexually with a larger, female gamete and a smaller, male one). The term is used when the female gamete is not capable of movement (non- motile). If the male gamete (sperm) is capable of movement, the type of ...
The endometrium is the inner epithelial layer, along with its mucous membrane, of the mammalian uterus. It has a basal layer and a functional layer: the basal layer contains stem cells which regenerate the functional layer. [1] The functional layer thickens and then is shed during menstruation in humans and some other mammals, including other ...
Mammals that have menstrual cycles shed the endometrium through menstruation instead. Humans, elephant shrews , and a few other species have menstrual cycles rather than estrous cycles. Humans, unlike most other species, have concealed ovulation , a lack of obvious external signs to signal estral receptivity at ovulation (i.e., the ability to ...
An ovarian follicle is a roughly spheroid cellular aggregation set found in the ovaries. It secretes hormones that influence stages of the menstrual cycle. At the time of puberty, women have approximately 200,000 to 300,000 follicles, [1][2] each with the potential to release an egg cell (ovum) at ovulation for fertilization. [3]