Question

What is Endometrium and what happens to it during the menstrual cycle?

Answer 1

Hint: The endometrium is present in the female reproductive system. The menstrual cycle is the cycle of normally 28 days in a healthy female. In this, the uterus grows and sheds its lining which it had prepared for the implantation. It is regulated by estrogen and progesterone.

Complete answer:
The egg fertilizes in the fallopian tube and reaches the uterus. The important component of the female reproductive system is the uterus in which the fertilised egg implants and grows to a complete foetus for the entire gestation. After the release of the egg every month, the uterus prepares for implantation under the influence of hormones progesterone and estrogen.

The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. It thickens every month so as to nourish the growing embryo. If the conception takes place the embryo implants on the endometrium bed and if the implantation does not take place, the level of the hormones drops and shedding of the endometrium layer takes place.

This shedding of the endometrium layer which results in bleeding is known as Menstruation. There are four phases of the menstrual cycle- menstruation, the follicular phase, the ovulation and the luteal phase.

So, we can conclude that the shedding of the endometrium layer occurs during menstruation.

Note: The increase in the level of progesterone and estrogen results in the thickening of the endometrium. This change starts from puberty and lasts every month till menopause. If the thickening of the endometrium occurs irregularly, it could be a sign of uterine cancer.