Menstrual Cycle interactive worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve this step-by-step based on the diagram of the menstrual cycle provided in the image.

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🔍 Understanding the Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is a monthly process in females that prepares the body for pregnancy. It typically lasts about 28 days and involves several key phases:

1. Menstruation (Period) – Shedding of the uterine lining.
2. Follicular Phase – The uterine lining begins to thicken in preparation for an egg.
3. Ovulation – The release of an egg from the ovary.
4. Luteal Phase – If the egg is not fertilized, it dies and the lining is shed again.

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📌 Key Events in the Diagram

We have 5 sentences to place into the correct boxes around the circle:

- Egg released (ovulation)
- Period (menstruation)
- Egg dies if not fertilised
- Lining starts to thicken
- If egg is fertilised it settles into thick lining

Now let’s match these with the correct positions on the cycle:

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✔ Step-by-Step Matching:

#### 🔹 Top Right Box (Days 1–3):
- This shows red dots in the uterus, indicating bleeding.
- Label: "lining shed again", which means menstruation.
- So, this box should be:
> ✔ Period (menstruation)

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#### 🔹 Bottom Center Box (Day 14):
- This is the middle of the cycle, marked as Day 14.
- In the diagram, the egg is shown being released from the ovary.
- This is ovulation.
- So, this box should be:
> ✔ Egg released (ovulation)

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#### 🔹 Bottom Left Box (Days 15–20):
- After ovulation, the uterine lining continues to grow and thicken.
- This phase is called the luteal phase.
- The lining is preparing for a possible embryo.
- So, this box should be:
> ✔ Lining starts to thicken

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#### 🔹 Right Side Box (Days 21–27):
- After ovulation, if the egg is not fertilized, it breaks down.
- The corpus luteum degenerates, and hormone levels drop.
- The lining then sheds.
- So, this box should be:
> ✔ Egg dies if not fertilised

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#### 🔹 Top Left Box (Days 24–26):
- This is after ovulation, but before menstruation.
- The lining is still thick, and there is no sign of shedding yet.
- But if fertilization occurred, the embryo would implant here.
- So, this box should be:
> ✔ If egg is fertilised it settles into thick lining

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✔ Final Answer: Matched Sentences to Boxes

| Box Position | Correct Sentence |
|----------------------|------------------|
| Top Right (Days 1–3) | Period (menstruation) |
| Bottom Center (Day 14)| Egg released (ovulation) |
| Bottom Left (Days 15–20)| Lining starts to thicken |
| Right Side (Days 21–27)| Egg dies if not fertilised |
| Top Left (Days 24–26)| If egg is fertilised it settles into thick lining |

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🧠 Summary of the Cycle:

1. Day 1–5: Period – lining shed.
2. Day 6–13: Lining rebuilds (thickens).
3. Day 14: Ovulation – egg released.
4. Day 15–27: Egg travels; if fertilized → implants; if not → dies.
5. Day 28: Lining sheds again → new cycle starts.

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✔ All sentences are now correctly placed!