Ovulation and Menstrual

cycle
 Follicular Development
Growth and differentiation of primary follicles
Proliferation of follicular cells
Formation of zona pellucida
Development of theca folliculi
 Follicular Development
• Primary follicles
• Theca folliculi:-
• Theca externa
• Theca interna
• Follicular fluid
• Granulosa cells
• Antrum
• After the antrum is formed the follicle now is called secondary follicle
• Cumulus oophorus
• Corona radiata
 Hormones
• Early development of ovarian follicles require FSH
• Final stages of maturation requires LH as well
• Growing follicles produce oestrogens
 Ovulation
• Release of the egg around mid cycle, day 14
• Influence of FSH and LH
• Appearance of the stigma on the ovary
• Ovulation: ↑LH serge, ↑oestrogen level in blood
• Secondary oocyte surrounded by Zona pellucida
 Ovulation
• Corpus Luteum (yellowish body)
• Secret progesterone
• Depends on weather the pregnancy occur or not
• Corpus haemorrhagicum
• Bleeding into the follicle
• Corpus luteum of menstruation
• That’s if egg is not fertilized
• Persist for about 14 days
• Corpus albicans (white body)
• Degenerated fibrous corpuc luteum
 Ovulation
• Corpus luteum of pregnancy
• That’s if pregnancy occurs
• Secret progesterone to maintain pregnancy for first few months
• After 4 months the corpus disappears as the placenta start producing
progesterone
• Series of events from formation of ovarian follicles to degeneration of
the corpus luteum constitute ovarian cycle
 Menstrual cycle
• Variable but averages 28 days
• Controlled by gonadotropins
• From puberty upto about 45-50 years
• Menarche
• Menopause
• Divided into three major phases:-
• Menstrual phase
• Proliferative phase
• Secretory phase
 Menstrual period
• Lasts for 3 -4 days on average
• Blood combined with small pieces of endometrial tissue is discharged
through the vagina
• Is due to ↓progesterone and oestrogen
• Spasm of muscle contraction
• Amount of blood and endometrium lost varies among women and in
same women at different times
 Proliferative Phase
• Also known as Follicular / estrogenic phase
• Variable length, 8 – 10 days on average
• Coincide with growing ovarian follicles
• Estrogen secreted from theca cells acts on endometrium
• Result in regeneration of functional layer
• Spiral arteries lengthen
• About 3 - 3 mm thick layer is established
Secretory phase
• Also known as luteal phase
• Last for about 13 days
• High progesterone and oestrogen levels
• Wide and tortuous glands
• Ready for implantation