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Key Features
The animation covers the second half of the menstrual cycle. A menstrual cycle is
from the first day of one period to the first day of the next period. During the first half
of the cycle (happening before the animation begins) the ovum matures inside a special space in the ovary called
a follicle. At the midpoint of the cycle (usually day 14 for women who have a 28 day cycle), the ovum
is released from its follicle, and begins the journey down the fallopian tube to the uterus.
In this cycle, there are no sperm present, so the ovum cannot be fertilized.
If the woman had had sex within the last several days, there could be sperm waiting to fertilize the egg.
That's because sperm can live inside a woman for 3-5 days or more.
The ovary and the tube are not connected, they are simply near each other. The ovum is swept into the tube
by the fimbria, the waving finger-like projections at the end of the tube.
The endometrium (lining of the uterus) is growing in preparation for nourishing a fertilized egg.
If the ovum is not fertilized in the first 24 hours or so after it is released, it will begin to break down
and cannot be fertilized. Eventually it completely disintegrates.
If the endometrium does not receive a fertilized egg, it will begin disintegrating on day 28. The broken down endometrium
and accompanying blood is what you see as your menstrual flow.
