![This is blank.](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/themes/histology-unified/imgs/trans.png)
Uterus: menstrual phase (Days 1-5)
The ischemia produced by the contraction of spiral arteries leads to degeneration and sloughing of the functional zone, leaving only the basal zone remaining at the end of menstruation. The menstrual flow contains blood, tissue fragments, and uterine fluids. 100x
![Sloughed tissue + blood <p>The ischemia produced by the contraction of spiral arteries leads to degeneration and sloughing of the functional zone, leaving only the basal zone remaining at the end of menstruation. The menstrual flow contains blood, tissue fragments, and uterine fluids. 100x</p>](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/O.R.F.U.16A-1-ping.png)
Sloughed tissue + blood
The ischemia produced by the contraction of spiral arteries leads to degeneration and sloughing of the functional zone, leaving only the basal zone remaining at the end of menstruation. The menstrual flow contains blood, tissue fragments, and uterine fluids. 100x
![Functional zone <p>The ischemia produced by the contraction of spiral arteries leads to degeneration and sloughing of the functional zone, leaving only the basal zone remaining at the end of menstruation. The menstrual flow contains blood, tissue fragments, and uterine fluids. 100x</p>](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/O.R.F.U.16A-2-ping.png)
Functional zone
The ischemia produced by the contraction of spiral arteries leads to degeneration and sloughing of the functional zone, leaving only the basal zone remaining at the end of menstruation. The menstrual flow contains blood, tissue fragments, and uterine fluids. 100x
![Basal zone <p>The ischemia produced by the contraction of spiral arteries leads to degeneration and sloughing of the functional zone, leaving only the basal zone remaining at the end of menstruation. The menstrual flow contains blood, tissue fragments, and uterine fluids. 100x</p>](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/O.R.F.U.16A-3-ping.png)
Basal zone
The ischemia produced by the contraction of spiral arteries leads to degeneration and sloughing of the functional zone, leaving only the basal zone remaining at the end of menstruation. The menstrual flow contains blood, tissue fragments, and uterine fluids. 100x
![Myometrium <p>The ischemia produced by the contraction of spiral arteries leads to degeneration and sloughing of the functional zone, leaving only the basal zone remaining at the end of menstruation. The menstrual flow contains blood, tissue fragments, and uterine fluids. 100x</p>](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/O.R.F.U.16A-4-ping.png)
Myometrium
The ischemia produced by the contraction of spiral arteries leads to degeneration and sloughing of the functional zone, leaving only the basal zone remaining at the end of menstruation. The menstrual flow contains blood, tissue fragments, and uterine fluids. 100x
![Graphic: menstrual phase > <p>Note that the menstrual phase of the uterine cycle overlaps the beginning of the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle.</p>](https://digitalhistology.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/O.R.F.U.16.P04.png)
Graphic: menstrual phase >
Note that the menstrual phase of the uterine cycle overlaps the beginning of the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle.