[A new hypothesis on the intimate mechanism of menstruation].
After having reviewed the various theories explaining the mechanism of menstruation, a hypothesis is propounded by the authors, according to which during the premenstrual period, thinning of the endometrium provokes a settling of the spiral arteries, highly developed at that moment. The vascular endothelial alterations induced by this settling would be sufficient to provoke erythrodiapedesis and superficial infarction that decapitate the superficial portion of the arteriolae. Liberation of prostaglandins following this small haemorrhage would lead to vasoconstriction of basal arteries and ischemia. The subsequent reflex vasodilatation causes the ischemic endometrium to fall off.
Orcel
L
L
Service Central d'Anatomie Pathologique, Faculté de Médecine Saint-Antoine, 27, rue de Chaligny, 75012 Paris.
Smadja
A
A
Roland
J
J
Minh
H N
HN
D004717:Endometrium / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia; D008598:Menstruation / Q000502:physiology*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism; D014661:Vasoconstriction; D014664:Vasodilation
D011453:Prostaglandins