The Uterus The uterus is divided into body (upper twothirds) and cervix.

The walls of the uterus are composed of a mucosal layer, the endometrium, and a fibromuscular layer, the myometrium. The peritoneal surface of the uterus is covered by a serosa. Myometrium The muscle fibres of the uterus form layers with preferred orientations of fibres (actually 4), but this is very difficult to see in most preparations. The muscular tissue hypertrophies during pregnancy, and jAPjunctions between cells become more frequent. Endometrium The endometrium consists of a simple columnar epithelium (ciliated cells and secretory cells) and an underlying thick connective tissue stroma. The mucosa is invaginated to form many simple tubular uterine glands. The glands extend through the entire thickness of the stroma. The stromal cells of the endometrium are

embedded in a network of reticular fibres. The endometrium is subject to cyclic changes that result in menstruation. Only the mucosa of the body of the uterus takes part in the menstrual cycle. The endometrium can be divided into two zones based on their involvement in the changes during the menstrual cycle: the basalis and the functionalis. The basalis is not sloughed off during menstruation but functions as a regenerative zone for the functionalis after its rejection. The functionalis is the luminal part of the endometrium. It is sloughed off during every menstruation and it is the site of cyclic changes in the endometrium. These cyclic changes are divided into a number of phases: proliferative (or follicular), secretory (or luteal), and menstrual.

The menarche is one of the later stages of puberty in girls. The average age of menarche in humans is 1213 years, but is normal anywhere between ages 8 and 16. Factors such as heredity, diet and overall health can accelerate or

delay menarche. The cessation of menstrual cycles at the end of a woman's reproductive period is termed menopause. The average age of menopause in women is 52 years in industrialised countries such as the UK, with anywhere between 45 and 55 being common. Menopause before age 45 is considered premature in industrialised countries. The age of menopause is largely a result of genetics; however, illnesses, certain surgeries, or medical treatments may cause menopause to occur earlier menstrual phase is characterized-1 by the necrosis and shedding of the functional layer of endometrium .spiral arterioses constrict epi sodically for afew days and finally constrict permentally,resulting in ischemia that lead to necrosis of endometrial glands and stroma. The spiral arterioles subsequently dilate and rupture,resulting in hemorrhage that sheds the .necrotic endometrial glands and stroma Follicular or proliferative phase -2 This phase is also called the proliferative phase because a hormone causes the lining of the uterus to grow, or proliferate, during this time. Through the influence of a rise in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) during the first days of the cycle, a few ovarian follicles are stimulated. These follicles, which were present at birth and have been developing for the better part of a year in a

process known as folliculogenesis, compete with each other for dominance. Under the influence of several hormones, all but one of these follicles will stop growing, while one dominant follicle in the ovary will continue to maturity. The follicle that reaches maturity is called a tertiary, or Graafian, follicle, and it forms the ovum. As they mature, the follicles secrete increasing amounts of estradiol, an estrogen. The estrogens initiate the formation of a new layer of endometrium in the uterus. The estrogen also stimulates crypts in the cervix to produce fertile cervical mucus, which may be noticed by women practicing fertility awareness. ovulatory phase[day 14-16] is characterized by -3 ovulation of the secondary oocyte arrested in metaphase of meiosis2 that coincide with leutalizing .hormone surge secretory or luteal phase[15-25] is characterized by-4 secretory activity of endometrial glands.this phase is controlled by progesterone secreted by corpus luteum .the endometrial glands become modified to convoluted endometrial glands with secretion product .within their lumen premenstrual phase [days 25-28] is characterized-5 by ischemia due to reduced blood flow to the endometrium and controlled by reduction in progesterone and estrogen as corpus luteum involutes. endometrial glands begin to shrink, the

spiral arterioles are compressed, so reducing blood .flow and causing ischemic damage Myometrium The uterus mostly consists of smooth muscle, known as "myometrium." The innermost layer of myometrium is known as the junctional zone, which becomes thickened in adenomyosis. Parametrium The loose connective tissue around the uterus. Perimetrium The peritoneum covering of the fundus and ventral and dorsal aspects of the uterus.