menstruation

When the corpus luteum degenerates, is that when you are menstruating? If yes, didn't Wasserman say you were losing blood when the endometrium goes down and not during the thickening of the endometrium? According to Figure 46.13, degeneration of corpus luteum is when endometrium is thickening and not when endometrium is declining. Thanks.

you are not menstruating during degeneration of the corpus luteum. I don't think Dr. Wasserman said anything different either, so maybe you misunderstood him. When you menstruate is when all the building up of tissue has to be shed.

So you menstrate by sheding the build up of endometrium right? Then what happens to the corpus luteum when degenerating? Just disappears? Then what's the purpose of corpus luteum when a mother is pregnant, because the corpus luteum doesn't degenerate when a mother is pregnant? Also, corpus luteum secrets progesterone and estrogen which promotes thickening of endometrium, then what happens to the thicken endometrium in a pregnant mother? Thanks.

yes, that is menstruation. the corpus luteum is just tissue and I'm sure the body has some mech of dealing with it, not necessary for this course. the CL secretes those hormones which promote the thickening of the lining, which is anticipating a fetus/implantation. You want it to be thick and richly supplied for the fetal development/implantation. Think about the purpose of what's happening and timing and this all makes perfect sense. Your body wants to ensure reproductive success.