Final answer:
The release of the ovum from the ovary, part of the menstrual cycle, is called ovulation. It typically occurs around day 14 of a 28-day cycle and marks the egg's release potentially for fertilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The release of the ovum from the ovary is called ovulation. This is an essential part of the menstrual cycle, which occurs roughly at the midpoint, around day 14 of a typical 28-day cycle. During ovulation, a mature egg or secondary oocyte is released from the follicle within the ovary. The ovary ruptures to release the oocyte, which is then usually captured by the fimbriae of the nearby fallopian tube, where it has the potential to be fertilized by sperm. Menstrual cycles that do not include ovulation are termed anovulatory cycles.
Other phases of the menstrual cycle include menstruation, which is the shedding of the uterine lining, and the luteal phase, where the remaining follicle transforms into the corpus luteum, which secretes important hormones. The hormones involved in this cycle come from the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and the ovaries themselves.