Menstrual Cycle
Menstrual Cycle
The Menstrual Cycle (/ˈmɛnstrʊəl ˈsaɪkəl/) is a natural biological process that occurs in the female reproductive system. It is a monthly cycle that prepares the female body for pregnancy.
Etymology
The term "menstrual" is derived from the Latin word mensis (month), which in turn originates from the Greek word mene (moon). The term "cycle" comes from the Greek kyklos, meaning circle or wheel, signifying the cyclical nature of the process.
Definition
The Menstrual Cycle is a series of changes in the female body that includes the maturation and release of an egg from the ovaries (known as ovulation), thickening of the uterine lining (endometrium), and shedding of the uterine lining (known as menstruation) if pregnancy does not occur.
Phases of the Menstrual Cycle
The Menstrual Cycle is typically divided into three phases: the follicular phase, the ovulatory phase, and the luteal phase.
- Follicular Phase: This phase begins on the first day of menstruation and ends with ovulation. The main events during this phase are the maturation of the follicles in the ovaries and the thickening of the endometrium.
- Ovulatory Phase: This phase is characterized by the release of a mature egg from the ovary into the fallopian tube, where it can be fertilized by a sperm cell.
- Luteal Phase: This phase begins after ovulation and lasts until the start of menstruation. If the egg is not fertilized, the thickened endometrium is shed during menstruation.
Related Terms
- Ovulation: The release of a mature egg from the ovary.
- Endometrium: The lining of the uterus that thickens during the menstrual cycle.
- Menstruation: The shedding of the endometrium if pregnancy does not occur.
- Follicles: Structures in the ovaries that contain and release eggs.
- Fallopian Tube: The tube through which the egg travels from the ovary to the uterus.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Menstrual Cycle
- Wikipedia's article - Menstrual Cycle
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski