Human reproduction - JSS1 Basic science Past Questions and Answers - page 2

The purpose of menstruation is to shed the uterine lining, which prepares the uterus for a potential pregnancy in case fertilization does not occur.

Ovulation typically occurs around the middle of a woman's menstrual cycle, approximately 14 days before the start of her next period. It marks the release of an egg from the ovary, which is the most fertile time in the cycle.

Fertilization occurs when a sperm cell penetrates and combines with an egg cell, usually in the fallopian tube. This creates a new cell called a zygote, which has the potential to develop into an embryo and eventually a fetus.

Fertilization usually takes place in the fallopian tube, where the sperm and egg meet and combine to form a zygote.

The body undergoes hormonal changes that stimulate the growth of the uterine lining during the menstrual cycle. If fertilization does not occur, hormonal changes trigger the shedding of this lining, resulting in menstruation. Ovulation is triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), which causes the release of an egg from the ovary.

If fertilization occurs, the uterine lining thickens to support the implantation of the embryo. This provides a nourishing environment for the developing embryo to grow and develop into a fetus.