The Menstrual Cycle

• label the diagram of the female reproductive system 


  .

  
• what can the fallopian tube also be called

  oviduct
• what happens during ovulation

  release of egg from ovary
• how long does the menstrual cycle usually take

  28 days
• what happens during the menstrual cycle in general terms

  • lining of uterus prepared for pregnancy
  • if implantation of fertilised egg into uterus lining doesn't happen
  • lining shed = menstruation
• what happens on day 1

  • menstruation starts
  • lining of uterus breaks down + released
  • known as period
• what happens between day 4-14

  • uterus lining builds up becoming a thick spongy layer of blood vessels
  • which are ready for a fertilise egg to implant there
• what happens soon day 14

  egg develops + released from ovary = ovulation
• what happens between day 14-28

  • lining of uterus maintained
  • if no fertilised egg planted
  • spongy lining starts to break down again
  • cycle restarts
• what 4 hormones control the menstrual cycle

  • oestrogen
  • progesterone
  • LH
  • FSH
• what does LH stand for

  lutinising hormone
• what does FSH stand for

  follicle stimulating hormone
• what is the first stage of hormones released

  • OESTROGEN
  • released by ovaries
  • stimulates lining of the womb to build up
• what releases oestrogen

  ovaries
• what releases LH

  pituitary glands
• what is the third stage of hormones released

  • LH
  • released by pituitary gland
  • LH surge triggers ovulation
• what is the second stage of hormones released

  • PROGESTERONE
  • released by corpus luteum after ovulation
  • maintains lining of the uterus
  • when level of progesterone falls -> low level of oestrogen
  • so uterus lining breaks down
• what releases progesterone

  corpus luteum
• what is the corpus luteum

  cells in the ovaries
• what is the fourth stage of hormones released

  • FSH
  • released by pituitary gland
  • stimulates growth + maturation of an egg follicle
• what releases FSH

  pituitary gland
• which two hormones are released by the pituitary gland

  LH + FSH
• what acronym helps with remembering how which hormones interact with each other

  • FROGS
  • ON
  • LILY
  • PADS
• Describe how each hormone interacts with each other in the menstrual cycle

  • pituitary gland produces FSH -> stimulates development of a follicle in ovary
  • egg matures inside follicle + produces oestrogen -> so FSH stimulates production of oestrogen
  • oestrogen causes growth + repair of lining of uterus wall + inhibits FSH
  • when oestrogen rises to high enough level -> stimulates release of LH from pituitary gland causing ovulation
  • follicle becomes a corpus luteum + produces progesterone
  • progesterone maintains uterus lining
• what stimulates production of oestrogen

  FSH
• what inhibits production of FSH

  oestrogen
• when oestrogen levels are high enough what does to stimulate

  release of LH
• what happens if the egg isn't fertilised

  • corpus luteum breaks down
  • progesterone levels drop
  • causes menstruation = period
• what happens if fertilisation does occur

  • corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone
  • prevents uterus lining from breaking down
  • one placenta has developed
  • starst secreting progesterone + continues to do so throughput pregnancy to maintain lining
• what happens if the uterus lining were to break down

  prevents pregnancy
• what does the follicle do

  holds the egg