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Book

Physiology, Uterus

Adi Gasner  1 , Aatsha P A  2
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Free Books & Documents
Book

Physiology, Uterus

Adi Gasner et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

The uterus is a muscular, hollow organ in the female pelvis that is approximately 5 cm wide, 8 cm long, and 4 cm thick with a volume of 80 to 200 mL. A physiologically normal uterus typically lies in a position of anteversion (tilts forward at the cervix) and anteflexion (tilts forward at the isthmus). The uterus is situated posterior to the bladder, anterior to the rectum, and consists of four anatomical features: the fundus (top), body, isthmus, and cervix (neck of the uterus). The cervical opening into the uterus is the internal os, while the cervical opening into the vagina is the external os.

There are three layers of the uterus. From external to internal:

  1. Perimetrium: continuous with the peritoneal cavity

  2. Myometrium: smooth muscle which contracts in childbirth

  3. Endometrium: consists of a thin base layer (stratum basalis) and a thicker functional layer (stratum functionalis). The stratum functionalis is a highly vascularized mucosal layer that undergoes monthly cyclical changes and is lost during menstruation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Adi Gasner declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Aatsha P A declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

    1. Ameer MA, Fagan SE, Sosa-Stanley JN, Peterson DC. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2022. Dec 6, Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis: Uterus. - PubMed
    1. Moncada-Madrazo M, Rodríguez Valero C. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2023. Jul 25, Embryology, Uterus. - PubMed
    1. Cunha GR, Robboy SJ, Kurita T, Isaacson D, Shen J, Cao M, Baskin LS. Development of the human female reproductive tract. Differentiation. 2018 Sep-Oct;103:46-65. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Chaudhry R, Chaudhry K. StatPearls [Internet] StatPearls Publishing; Treasure Island (FL): 2023. Sep 4, Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis: Uterine Arteries. - PubMed
    1. Critchley HOD, Maybin JA, Armstrong GM, Williams ARW. Physiology of the Endometrium and Regulation of Menstruation. Physiol Rev. 2020 Jul 01;100(3):1149-1179. - PubMed

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