Final answer:
In a non-pregnant woman after ovulation, the corpus luteum degenerates due to the lack of pregnancy, leading to decreased levels of estrogen and progesterone.
Step-by-step explanation:
Events in a Non-Pregnant Woman After Ovulation
After ovulation, if the secondary oocyte is not fertilized, the following events occur in the body of a non-pregnant woman:
- The corpus luteum formed after ovulation begins to degrade if no pregnancy occurs.
- As the corpus luteum degenerates, the secretion of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone decreases.
- The decrease in progesterone levels leads to the constriction and rupture of the spiral arteries in the endometrium, reducing blood flow and causing the endometrial tissue to die.
- This process of endometrial tissue breakdown leads to its shedding, resulting in menstruation, which marks the beginning of the next menstrual cycle.
The menstrual cycle then continues, starting with the follicular phase followed by ovulation and the potential for a new luteal phase.