Menstrual Cycle Physiology: - Dr. Atef Abood
Menstrual Cycle Physiology: - Dr. Atef Abood
Menstrual Cycle Physiology: - Dr. Atef Abood
Ovaries
Primordial follicle one layer of squamouslike follicle cells surrounds the oocyte Primary follicle two or more layers of cuboidal granulosa cells enclose the oocyte Secondary follicle has a fluid-filled space between granulosa cells that coalesces to form a central antrum Graafian follicle secondary follicle at its most mature stage that bulges from the surface of the ovary Ovulation ejection of the oocyte from the ripening follicle Corpus luteum ruptured follicle after ovulation 2
Oogenesis
At puberty, one activated primary oocyte produces two haploid cells
The first polar body The secondary oocyte
The secondary oocyte arrests in metaphase II and is ovulated If penetrated by sperm the second oocyte completes meiosis II, yielding:
One large ovum (the functional gamete) A tiny second polar body
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Ovarian Cycle
Monthly series of events associated with the maturation of an egg Follicular phase period of follicle growth (days 114) Luteal phase period of corpus luteum activity (days 1428) Ovulation occurs midcycle
Follicular Phase
This phase is under the effect of FSH and to a little extent LH. It starts by activation of several; primordial follicles. At the 6th day only one follicle starts to grow rapidly becoming a dominant follicle called the Graffian follicle while the others regress. The primordial follicle, directed by the oocyte, becomes a primary follicle Primary follicle becomes a secondary follicle
The theca folliculi and granulosa cells cooperate to produce estrogens The zona pellucida forms around the oocyte The antrum is formed
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Ovulation
Ovulation occurs when the ovary wall ruptures and expels the secondary oocyte Mittelschmerz a twinge of pain sometimes felt at ovulation 1-2% of ovulations release more than one secondary oocyte, which if fertilized, results in twins
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Luteal Phase
After ovulation, the ruptured follicle collapses, granulosa cells enlarge, and along with internal thecal cells, form the corpus luteum The corpus luteum secretes progesterone and estrogen If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates in 10 days, leaving a scar (corpus albicans) If pregnancy does occur, the corpus luteum produces hormones until the placenta takes over that role (at about 3 months)
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Days 6-14: Proliferative (preovulatory) phase endometrium rebuilds itself Days 15-28: Secretory (postovulatory) phase endometrium prepares for implantation of the embryo
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Endometrium
Has numerous uterine glands that change in length as the endometrial thickness changes Stratum functionalis:
Undergoes cyclic changes in response to ovarian hormones Is shed during menstruation
Stratum basalis:
Forms a new functionalis after menstruation ends
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Proliferative phase
Duration: 2 weeks Thickness: 0.5mm 5mm Under the influence of estrogens from the developing follicle, the endometrium increases rapidly in thickness from the fifth to the fourteenth days of the menstrual cycle. As the thickness increases, the uterine glands are drawn out so that they lengthen, but they do not become convoluted or secrete to any degree. These endometrial changes are also called the preovulatory or follicular phase of the cycle.
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Secretory phase
Duration: 2 weeks Thickness: 5-6mm After ovulation, the endometrium becomes more highly vascularized and slightly edematous under the influence of estrogen and progesterone from the corpus luteum. The glands become coiled and tortuous, and they begin to secrete a clear fluid. Consequently, this phase of the cycle is called the secretory or luteal phase. Late in the luteal phase, the endometrium, like the anterior pituitary, produces prolactin, but the function of this endometrial prolactin is unknown.
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Menses
If fertilization does not occur, progesterone levels fall, depriving the endometrium of hormonal support Spiral arteries kink and go into spasms and endometrial cells begin to die The functional layer begins to digest itself Spiral arteries constrict one final time then suddenly relax and open wide The rush of blood fragments weakened capillary beds and the functional layer sloughs Nonclotting menstrual blood mainly comes from artery (75%) Interval: 24-35 days (28 days). duration: 2-6 days. the first day of menstrual bleeding is consideredy by day 1 Shedding: 30-50 ml
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Menstruation
Menstrual blood composition is predominantly arterial, with only 25% of the blood being of venous origin. It contains tissue debris, prostaglandins, and relatively large amounts of fibrinolysin from endometrial tissue. The fibrinolysin lyses clot, so that menstrual blood does not normally contain clots unless the flow is excessive. The usual duration: 3-5 days, but flows as short as 1 day and as long as 8 days can occur in normal women.
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Menstruation
The amount of blood lost may range normally slight spotting to 80 mL; the average amount lost is 30 mL. Loss of more than 80 mL is abnormal. Obviously, The amount of flow can be affected by various factors, including the thickness of the endometrium, medication, and diseases that affect the clotting mechanism. After menstruation, a new endometfrom rium regenerates from the stratum basale.
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Menses (Cont.)
When the corpus luteum regresses, hormonal support for the endometrium is withdrawn. The endometrium becomes thinner, which adds to the coiling of the spiral arteries. Foci of necrosis appear in the endometrium, and these coalesce. There is in addition spasm and then necrosis of the walls of the spiral arteries, leading to spotty hemorrhages that become confluent and produce the menstrual flow.
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Menses (Cont.)
The vasospasm is probably produced by locally released prostaglandins. There are large quantities of prostaglandins in the secretory endometrium and in menstrual blood, and infusions of PGF2 produce endometrial necrosis and bleeding. One theory of the onset of menstruation holds that in necrotic endometrial cells, lysosomal membranes break down, with the release of enzymes that foster the formation of prostaglandins from cellular phospholipids.
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Estrogen levels increase and high estrogen levels have a positive feedback effect on the pituitary, causing a sudden surge of LH The LH spike stimulates the primary oocyte to complete meiosis I, and the secondary oocyte continues on to metaphase II
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Menstrual Abnormalities
Anovulatory cycle Amenorrhea
Primary amenorrhea: period never occurs Secondary amenorrhea stop of the cycle after normal periods have occurred.
Menorrahgia: excessive bleeding during menstruation Hypomenorrhea: scanty or little bleeding Metrorrahgia: bleeding between cycles. Oligomenorrhea: reduced frequency of the periods.
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