The woman’s uterus is a smooth muscle hollow organ (unpaired) in which the embryo is able to develop and bear the fetus. It is located in the middle part of the small pelvis, namely, behind the bladder and in front of the rectum.
The woman’s uterus is mobile. Depending on the neighboring organs, it can occupy any position. In a normal state, the longitudinal axis of the uterus is oriented along the pelvis. At the same time, a filled rectum and bladder can tilt it slightly in front. The surface of the uterus is almost completely covered by the peritoneum (except for the vaginal part of the neck). This organ has a pear-shaped shape, which is slightly flattened in the anteroposterior direction. The woman’s uterus has the following layers (starting from the inside): endometrium, myometrium and parametrium. Outside, the neck of the organ, or rather its abdominal part (just above the isthmus), is covered with adventitia.
Woman's uterus: sizes
The length of this organ in women of
reproductive age, on average, is 7-8 centimeters, width - 4, and thickness - 2-3 cm. The mass of the uterus in women who have given birth to a weaker sex can reach 80 grams, while in nulliparous girls this indicator varies from 40 to 50 units. This difference in weight is due to the fact that during pregnancy the muscle membrane of the organ becomes hypertrophied. The volume of the uterus is approximately 5-6 cubic centimeters.
Parts of the female organ
The woman’s uterus is divided into the following parts:
1. The bottom is the convex upper part of the organ that protrudes above the edge of the entry of the fallopian tubes.
2. The body is the most massive part of the uterus, which has a conical shape.
3. The neck is the narrowed and rounded part of the organ. The lowest part of this part passes into the vaginal cavity. In this regard, the cervix is also called the vaginal. The upper region is called the supravaginal.
The vaginal section of this organ carries the opening of the uterus, which leads from the vagina into the cervical canal, and then into its cavity. For nulliparous women, this area has an oval shape, and for those who have already had childbirth, they have the appearance of a transverse gap. What a woman’s uterus looks like can be seen in this article. Photos of the organ and schematic images give an idea of this.
Uterine function
In this body, the development of the embryo and its further bearing in the form of a fetus takes place. Due to the fact that the uterus has highly elastic walls, it can increase quite strongly in volume and size. This also occurs due to overwashing of connective tissues and myocyte hypertrophy. As you know, this body has developed muscles, due to which the uterus takes an active part in the birth of a child, and more precisely in the expulsion of the fetus from its cavity.
Currently, there are a huge number of diseases that lead to a change in the position of the uterus, its normal state, etc. (cancer, myoma, polyps, erosion, endometritis, prolapse, prolapse , etc.). To avoid such pathologies, women should visit a gynecologist 2-3 times a year, as well as undergo a full examination of the body.