Question

1. Describe the major events of the menstrual cycle and what triggers those events? Be specific.

2. Soon after eating a meal what happens to pancreatic secretions? Include what stimulates these secretions & the affect of those sec secretions. Be sure to discuss the endocrine and exocrine rules.

Answer 1

1.Menstrual cycle refers to cycles in which women's uterus grows and prepares for fertilization and sheds the lining of uterus that could supports the fertilized egg.A typical cycle occurs every 28 days, but may vary from women to women.The menstrual cycle on average normally starts for the first time when a girl is between 11-14 years.

A womens menstrual cycle is divided into 4 diffrent stages.They are Mentrual phase ,follicular phase,ovulation phase and luteal phase.
In the menstrual phase is when a women gets her period.In this phase the thickened lining of the uterus called endometrium is shed from the body through the vag*na.This happens when an egg from previous cycle is not fertilized.This results in a drop of hormones called estrogen and progestrone.These hormones are the most important hormones in a female body.The menstrual fluid contains blood cells from the endometrium and also mucus.Normally this causes cramps,bloating,tiredness,mood swings due to hormonal changes etc.This phase is for 3-7 days.A women uses sanitary pads or tampons to absorb the menstrual fluid.
Next is the follicular phase and in this phase hypothalamus sends a stimuli to the pituitary gland that secretes Follicle stimulating hormone that can stimulate the ovaries to produce immature eggs called follicles.There will be around 5-10 follicles in a womens body.Only one of these follicles can form a mature egg.In rare cases women may have more than one matured eggs.Rest of the follicles are absorbed by the body.The maturation of follicle takes about 10-16 days.This growth of follicles stimulates the thickening of the uterus lining to prepare for a possible pregnancy by an increase of estrogen hormone.
In the ovulation phase The matured egg is released from the ovarian surface ,that occurs 2 weeks before next menstruation.The increased estrogen levels causes the hypothalamus to release Gonadotropin releasing hormone that triggers pituitary gland for producing Luteinising Hormone(LH) and Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)hormone. This high levels of LH triggers the release of matured egg out of the ovaries.This egg moves through the fallopian tubes that are tubes stretching from uterus to the ovaries.The egg moves towards the uterus and stays for 24 hours to meet a sperm for fertilization or else it dies.
Leutal phase : During the ovulation phase when the egg is pulled out from a follicle,the ruptured follicle transforms to a structure called corpus leuteum.This releases progestrone hormone along with estrogen to help maintain a thick lining of uterus waiting for a fertilized egg.If the fertilization occurs the eegg is implanted in the uterus.If egg is not fertilized then the corpus leuteum dies around the 22 nd day of cycle and drops the level of progestrone.The progestrone levels keeps dropping and around 28 th day of the cycle the lining of uterus is shed and is called menstruation.This cycle repeats.

2.Pancreas is a gland located in upper abdomen behind the stomach and is made of head ,body and a tail.It is both exocrine and endocrine gland.Exocrine glands are glands that releases chemicals to outside surface within body.Endocrine glands releases chemicals directly to the bloodstream or tissues.Pancreas helps the digestion process by releasing enzymes to break down the food acting as an exocrine gland and production of hormones like insulin to control the levels of blood sugar acting as an endocrine gland.When food enters the stomach the pancreas releases pancreatic juices to break down the food.These juice contains enzymes such as Lipase,trypsin and chymotrypsin& Amylase.Lipase works along with bile produced by the liver to break down fats in our diet.Also fat soluble vitamins like A,D,E and K are absorbed with the help of this enzyme.trypsin and chymotrypsin breaks down proteins and also helps fight germs in our intestines.Amylase breaks down the starch into sugars which can be used as energy for metabolic activities.All these enzymes travel through ducts and empty to the small intestine for completing the disgestion process. Another function of pancreas is to control blood sugar.For this pancreas has a group of cells called Islets of Langerhans.These cells produces insulin and glucagon hormones that is directly secreted to blood stream.These hormones are important in regulating the sugar levels in blood.When th esugars in blood rises insulin is secreted and it absorbs the excess sugar.When sugar level is low pancreas releases glucagon and it helps to release the stored energy in liver.Also when the sugar reaches normal level production of glucagon is stopped.