Lesson 2: the menstrual cycle

• Biologie
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Instruction biology

Test week: postpone test unit 3 circulatory system

after the lockdown

What have you discussed last lesson?

Uterus

Fallopian tube

ovary

Urinary bladder

Urethra

Vagina

fact

fake

Girls carry all egg cells since birth in their ovaries

all healthy women have a menstrual cycle

the menstruation blood contains an egg cell 

the length of the menstrual cycle differs per individual

the average age for the first menstruation is 11 years

Reproduction

Lesson 2: The menstrual cycle

Learning goals lesson 2

1. You can explain what is happening during the 4 phases of the menstrual cycle
2. You know which hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle

What is menstruation?

• Release of blood from the uterus (uterus lining) through the vagina
• Start around age 12

How does it happen? 

• Hormones estrogen en progesterone build up uterus lining
  
  
• Fertilized egg could attach to this
  
  
• No fertilized egg? --> Lining is shed
  
  
• cylce: it happens over and over again (450 times in a life time)

4 Phases

• Phase 1 (day 1-5) : menstruation
• Uterus lining is shed through the vagina (no fertilized egg)
  
  
• Phase 2 (day 6-12): repair phase
• uterus lining build new layer of mucus
• new egg cell develops in the ovary

4 Phases

• Phase 3: Ovulation (day 13-15)
• A new egg cell (ova) is released and send down the oviduct (fallopian tube)
  
  
• Phase 4: Receptive phase (day 16 - 28)
• Uterus lining grows to form a 'nest' for the egg cell
• No fertilized egg cell? --> cycle starts again!

What determines the beginning of the menstruation cycle?

1. Release of blood through the vagina
2. The release of the egg cell from the ovaries
3. The growing of the uterus lining
4. The cycle can start anytime

In which part of the female reproductive system do the ova (egg cells) develop?

1. Fallopian tube/Oviduct
2. Ovaries
3. Uterus
4. Vagina

In which part of the female reproductive system does the fertilised egg cell grow into a baby?

1. Fallopian tube/Oviduct
2. Ovaries
3. Uterus
4. Vagina

On which day in the cycle does ovulation occur?

1. Day 1
2. Day 14
3. Day 20
4. Day 28

What is shed during the menstruation of a female?

1. The ovaries
2. The egg cell
3. The uterus lining
4. Nothing

The cycle is for everyone the same. It is always 28 days.

1. True
2. False

How long does an released egg cell survive?

1. 15 days
2. 4 days
3. about an hour
4. 1-2 days

How do we call the release of an egg cell into the oviduct?

1. Fertilization
2. Ovulation
3. Pregnancy
4. Contraceptive

Start working!

Do exercise 13-16