Question

When pregnancy does not occur, the life of corpus luteum is about

• A. 4 days
• B. 10 day
• C. 14 days
• D. 28 days

Answer 1

The correct option is C 14 days

The reproductive cycle or the menstrual cycle is of about 28 days and occur in three phases which are menstrual phase, proliferative phase and secretory phase.

• Proliferative phase is regulated by the secretion of hormones from the anterior pituitary and this stimulates ovarian follicle to secrete oestrogen. By the second week, most of the developing follicles die and one follicle continues to grow which mature and forms the Graafian follicle.
• Ovulation occurs on the 14th day of the cycle and egg is released from the Graafian follicle.
• The secretory phase is marked by a yellow coloured body known as Corpus luteum. In the presence of pregnancy, human chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is secreted from the corpus luteum.
• In the absence of pregnancy, corpus luteum regresses to corpus albicans and menstruation starts which marks the menstrual phase.

Hence, when pregnancy does not occur, life of corpus luteum is about 14 days.

So, the correct answer is '14'.