Library · Physiology
Endometrial function
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The endometrium prepares the inside of the uterus for an embryo to implant. Estrogen and progesterone coordinate changes in its glands, stroma, and blood vessels. Picture a room being prepared during each cycle before anyone knows whether it will be used.
If implantation does not happen, the functional layer breaks down and leaves the body during menstruation. The basal layer stays behind like a firm floor, providing the foundation from which the uterine lining is built again.
In brief
The endometrium prepares the uterine lining for the possible implantation of an embryo. In response to estrogen and progesterone, its glands, stroma, and blood vessels move through coordinated phases of growth and differentiation.
If implantation does not occur, the superficial functional layer breaks down and is shed during menstruation. The deeper basal layer remains and regenerates the lining for a new cycle; the two layers perform different roles within the same tissue.
Sources (3)
- U.S. National Library of MedicineHistology of the human endometrium: from birth to senescence
- National Center for Biotechnology InformationPhysiology, Uterus
- National Center for Biotechnology InformationUterine stem cells
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated