External orifice of the uterus
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| External orifice of the uterus | |
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| Posterior half of uterus and upper part of vagina. (External orifice labeled at bottom.) | |
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| Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind. (External uterine orifice labeled at bottom.) | |
| Latin | ostium uteri, orificium externum uteri |
| Gray's | subject #268 1260 |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | o_09/12602106 |
The external orifice of the uterus (or ostium of uterus, or external os) is a small, depressed, somewhat circular aperture on the rounded extremity of the vaginal portion of the cervix. Through this aperature, the cervical cavity communicates with that of the vagina.
The external orifice is bounded by two lips, an anterior and a posterior. The anterior is shorter and thicker, though it projects lower than the posterior because of the slope of the cervix. Normally, both lips are in contact with the posterior vaginal wall.
[edit] Additional images
 Vessels of the uterus and its appendages, rear view. |
 Median sagittal section of female pelvis. |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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