Uterus

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This article is about female reproductive anatomy. For the nightclub in Shibuya, Tokyo, see Womb (nightclub).
"Hystera" redirects here. For the state of mind, see Hysteria.
Uterus
Female internal reproductive anatomy
1. Round ligament
2. Uterus
3. Uterine cavity
4. Intestinal surface of Uterus
5. Versical surface(toward bladder)
6. Fundus of uterus
7. Body of uterus
8. Palmate folds of cervical canal
9. Cervical canal
10. Posterior lip
11. Cervical os (external)
12. Isthmus of uterus
13. Supravaginal portion of cervix
14. Vaginal portion of cervix
15. Anterior lip
16. Cervix
Gray's subject #268 1258
Artery ovarian artery, uterine artery, helicine branches of uterine artery
Vein uterine veins
Lymph body and cervix to internal iliac lymph nodes, fundus to superficial inguinal lymph nodes
Precursor Müllerian duct
MeSH Uterus

The uterus (from the Latin word for womb) is the major female reproductive organ of most mammals, including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina; the other is connected on both sides to the Fallopian tubes. The term uterus is commonly used within the medical and related professions, whilst womb is in more common usage. The plural of uterus is uteruses or uteri.

Contents

[edit] Function

The main function of the uterus is to accept a fertilized ovum which becomes implanted into the endometrium, and derives nourishment from blood vessels which develop exclusively for this purpose. The fertilized ovum becomes an embryo, develops into a fetus and gestates until childbirth. Due to anatomical barriers such as the pelvis, the uterus is pushed partially into the abdomen due to its expansion during pregnancy. Even during pregnancy the mass of a human uterus amounts to only about a kilogram (2.2 pounds).

[edit] Forms in mammals

In mammals, the four main forms in which it is found are:

Bipartite  
Found in ruminants (cattle, goats, sheep, camels, llamas, giraffes, bison, buffalo, deer, etc.).
Bicornuate 
Found in pigs, cats, and dogs.
Simplex  
Found in humans, other primates and horses.
Duplex  
Found in rodents (such as mice, rats and guinea pigs), marsupials and lagomorpha (rabbits and hares).

[edit] Anatomy

The uterus is located inside the pelvis immediately dorsal (and usually somewhat rostral) to the urinary bladder and ventral to the rectum. Outside of pregnancy, its size in humans is several centimeters in diameter. The uterus is a pear shaped muscular organ which can be divided anatomically into four segments: The fundus, corpus, cervix and the internal os.

[edit] Regions

From outside to inside, the path to the uterus is as follows:

[edit] Layers

The layers, from innermost to outermost, are as follows:

Endometrium 
The lining of the uterine cavity is called the "endometrium." In most mammals, including humans, the endometrium builds a lining periodically which, if no pregnancy occurs, is shed or reabsorbed. Shedding of the endometrial lining in humans is responsible for menstrual bleeding (known colloquially as a woman's "period") throughout the fertile years of a female and for some time beyond. In other mammals there may be cycles set as widely apart as six months or as frequently as a few days.
Myometrium 
The uterus mostly consists of smooth muscle, known as "myometrium." The innermost layer of myometrium is known as the junctional zone, which becomes thickened in adenomyosis.
Perimetrium 
The loose surrounding tissue is called the "perimetrium."
Peritoneum 
The uterus is surrounded by "peritoneum."

[edit] Support

The uterus is primarily supported by the pelvic diaphragm and the urogenital diaphragm. Secondarily, it is supported by ligaments and the peritoneum (broad ligament of uterus) [1]

[edit] Major ligaments

It is held in place by several peritoneal ligaments, of which the following are the most important (there are two of each):

Name From To
uterosacral ligament the posterior cervix the sacrum of pelvis
cardinal ligaments the side of the cervix the ischial spines
pubocervical ligament [1]

Other named ligaments near the uterus, i.e. the broad ligament, the round ligament, the suspensory ligament of the ovary, the infundibulopelvic ligament, have no role in the support of the uterus.

[edit] Position

Under normal circumstances the uterus is both "anteflexed" and "anteverted." The meaning of these terms are described below:

Distinction More common Less common
Position tipped "anteverted": tipped forward "retroverted": tipped backwards
Position of fundus "anteflexed": the fundus is pointing forward relative to the cervix "retroflexed": the fundus is pointing backwards

[edit] Development

The bilateral Müllerian ducts form during early fetal life. In males, MIF secreted from the testes leads to their regression. In females these ducts give rise to the Fallopian tubes and the uterus. In humans the lower segments of the two ducts fuse to form a single uterus, however, in cases of uterine malformations this development may be disturbed. The different uterine forms in various mammals are due to various degrees of fusion of the two Müllerian ducts.

[edit] Pathology

Some pathological states include:

[edit] Additional images

Schematic frontal view of female anatomy

Uterus and uterine tubes.

Anatomical model of a human pregnancy

Sectional plan of the gravid uterus in the third and fourth month.

Fetus in utero, between fifth and sixth months.

Vessels of the uterus and its appendages, rear view.

Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind.

Female pelvis and its contents, seen from above and in front.

Sagittal section of the lower part of a female trunk, right segment.

Posterior half of uterus and upper part of vagina.

The arteries of the internal organs of generation of the female, seen from behind.

Median sagittal section of female pelvis.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b The Pelvis University College Cork

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Look up Uterus in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
v • d • e
Female reproductive system
Follicles/Folliculogenesis
Ovaries/Oogenesis
Fallopian tubes
Ligaments
Uterus
Vulva/mons pubis
Vestiges
Other