Endometrial shedding
Definition
The physiological process by which the functional layer of the uterine endometrium is broken down and expelled during menstruation. The shedding process releases enzymes, blood, endometrial cells, and stromal material that collectively distinguish menstrual from peripheral blood.
Related terms
- D-dimer
- A fibrin degradation product generated when cross-linked fibrin is cleaved by plasmin. Elevated D-dimer in menstrual blood reflects the active fibrinolytic process;...
- Fibrinolysis
- The enzymatic breakdown of fibrin by plasmin, which is generated from plasminogen by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Menstrual blood has high tPA...
- Matrix metalloprotease 10 (MMP-10)
- An endopeptidase of the MMP family involved in extracellular matrix remodelling during endometrial breakdown and shedding. Significantly elevated in menstrual blood and...
- mRNA profiling
- Detection of messenger RNA transcripts specific to particular tissues or body fluids. Endometrial-specific transcripts (LEFTY2, MMP-10 mRNA, others) can distinguish menstrual blood...
- Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)
- A serine protease secreted by endometrial cells and vascular endothelium that converts plasminogen to plasmin. Elevated in menstrual blood relative to peripheral...
Explained in
- Menstrual Blood versus Peripheral BloodThe physiological process by which the functional layer of the uterine endometrium is broken down and expelled during menstruation. The shedding process releas...