The structure and functions of the uterus of a woman. The structure of the uterus: where it is, what it looks like, sizes, pictures and photos with a description, the anatomy of a woman (appendages, ligaments, cervix) nulliparous and pregnant

A muscular hollow organ of a woman in which a fertilized egg develops.
The uterus performs menstrual and reproductive functions, it develops and bears the fetus.
It is located in the small pelvis between the bladder and the rectum.
Its length is 7-8 cm, width 4-6 cm, weight 50-60 g. The wide upper part of the pear-shaped uterus is called the body, the narrow lower part, as if inserted into the vagina, is the neck. The body of the uterus has a triangular cavity, which narrows towards the cervix and opens into the vagina through a narrow canal, the so-called external uterine os. At the top, the uterine cavity communicates with the fallopian tubes.
The glands of the body of the uterus produce a watery secret that moisturizes the surface of the mucous membrane lining the inside of the uterine cavity. The wall of the uterus consists of 3 layers (shells): mucous (endometrium), muscular (myometrium) and serous (perimetry). The uterine cavity is lined with a mucous membrane richly supplied with blood vessels, its surface layer undergoes periodic changes associated with the menstrual cycle, and the deeper layer takes part in the restoration of the mucous membrane after the surface layer is shed from it during menstruation. The mucous membrane of the cervical canal of the uterus is rich in glands that produce translucent thick mucus, which fills the lumen of the canal in the form of a mucous plug. Mucus contains special substances that can kill pathogenic bacteria, and thus protects the uterus and fallopian tubes from pathogens that can enter or independently penetrate the vagina. The muscular layer of the uterus is the most powerful, it is a dense plexus of bundles of smooth muscle fibers (located in several layers and in different directions), between which layers of connective tissue and elastic fibers lie. The uterine muscle is well supplied with blood and plays a major role in uterine contractions during childbirth.
Outside, the uterus is covered with a connective tissue serous membrane.
The uterus has physiological mobility; occupying its original position in the center of the small pelvis, it can move backwards when the bladder is full, anteriorly - when the rectum is full, rise upwards - during pregnancy.
The uterus undergoes very significant recurrent changes in the postpartum period.
In the menopause, the uterus decreases in size, atrophy of its mucous membrane, wrinkling of the stroma and sclerotic changes in blood vessels are noted. Violations of the development of the uterus include congenital malformations (complete absence of the uterus - aplasia, doubling, bicornuity, etc.), as well as hypoplasia, position anomalies (uterine prolapse, displacement, prolapse, etc.). Diseases of the uterus are more often manifested by various menstrual irregularities and related infertility, miscarriage, as well as inflammatory diseases of the genital organs, tumors.

(Source: Sexological Dictionary)

(lat. uterus), the reproductive organ, in which the development of the fetus occurs. In a woman, it is located in the pelvic cavity between the bladder and the rectum.

(Source: Dictionary of Sexual Terms)

See what "Uterus" is in other dictionaries:

UTERUS, except for the direct meaning of the mother: | woman, woman; | female, any female animal: mares, in a horse farm, are also called queens. Bees have one queen in each swarm, the rest are divided into drones (males) and workers, farm laborers. The bee queen... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

UTERUS- (uterus), the organ that is the source of menstrual blood (see Menstruation) and the site of development of the fetal egg (see Pregnancy, Childbirth), occupies a central position in the female genital apparatus and in the pelvic cavity; lies in the geometric center ... ... Big Medical Encyclopedia

UTERUS, uterus, wives. 1. The inner part of the female genital organs, in which the embryo develops. Diseases of the uterus. 2. The female is a producer in animals. Deer mother. The horse farm had many breeding queens. Queen bee. 3. trans. Designation ... ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

- (uterus), a sac-like or canal-shaped organ of the female reproductive system in animals and humans, which serves as a container for eggs or embryos. Usually embryos develop in M., their nutrition and gas exchange are provided. In invertebrates M. called. various… … Biological encyclopedic dictionary

Producer, parent, mother, mother, mother, mother, mother, mother, mother, mother, mother, mother, mother, mare, mother rabbit, air mother, mother, darling, mother, mother, mother, mother, mother, mother, mother, … … Synonym dictionary

Characteristic Length 64 km Basin area 392 km² Barents Sea basin Pechora river basin Watercourse ... Wikipedia

Modern Encyclopedia

The muscular genital organ in female animals and in women, representing the expanded part of the oviduct. In oviparous animals (reptiles, birds, cloacae), mature eggs are temporarily placed in the uterus; in viviparous, the development of the embryo occurs. U… … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

UTERUS, a hollow muscular organ located in the pelvis of female mammals. Protects and nourishes the growing FETAL until birth. The upper part is wide, with FALLOPIAN TUBES branching off on each side. Below the uterus narrows into a neck leading to ... ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

Uterus- UTERUS, a muscular sexual organ in female animals and in women. In oviparous animals (reptiles, birds, cloacae), mature eggs are temporarily placed in the uterus, in viviparous animals the embryo develops. In humans, the uterus is a reproductive organ; ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

MATKA, and, wives. 1. The internal organ of a woman and females of many viviparous and oviparous animals, in which the embryo develops. 2. The female is a producer in animals. Olenya m. Pchelinaya m. 3. Same as mother (in 1 value) (region). 4. Special military… Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

A woman's uterus is pear-shaped. It is somewhat flattened in anteroposterior size. The organ is located in the pelvic cavity, often closer to the right or left pelvic wall. The mass of the uterus averages 40–60 g.

Features of the structure of the uterus of a woman

In the uterus, it is customary to distinguish the body and neck, as well as the isthmus between them. In most women, the uterus is tilted forward in the pelvic cavity. The part of the uterus above the place where the tubes exit is usually called the bottom, and its lateral edges are located downwards to the right and left, in turn upwards - the corners of the uterus.

Vatka is a hollow organ. This means that there is a free cavity in the body of the uterus. On the section of the structure of the uterus of a woman, the uterine cavity has a triangular shape. However, in the usual form, the anterior and posterior walls of the uterus are in contact, and therefore its cavity looks like a slit.

The structure of the walls of the uterus

The structure of the walls of the uterus, as well as the vagina, is represented by three layers:

the first layer is the inner one - the mucous membrane (endometrium);

the second layer - middle - muscular (myometrium);

the third layer - the outer - the serous membrane and peritoneum.

The greatest changes depending on the phase of the cycle are noted in mucous layer(endothelium) of the uterus. The thickness of the endometrium in this regard is from 1 to 2-3 mm. In the thickness of the endometrium are simple tubular glands that secrete a mucous secret. The myometrium undergoes significant structural changes during pregnancy and childbirth, until this moment there are practically no changes in it.

Thickness muscle layer ranges from 3 mm to 10 mm in different parts of the uterus. The greatest expression of the muscular layer (myometrium) of the uterus is noted at the bottom of the uterus and at the junction of the uterus with ligaments. Its smallest thickness is in the region of the anterior wall of the uterus and closer to the cervix.

outer layer represented by the peritoneum. This is a special cover that covers the entire inner surface of all internal organs. It covers the uterus in front and behind, it is loosely fused with the fundus of the uterus, as well as the anterior and posterior walls. In front, the abdominal cover reaches the internal os and goes up to the bladder. From the sides, the uterus is free from the abdominal cover, since here it diverges to the sides, forming wide ligaments of the uterus.

Functions of the uterus in the female body

The functional role of the uterus in the female body is extremely large and is as follows:

protection of the higher genital organs and the abdominal cavity from incoming infectious pathogens from the vagina (using the cervical canal);

regular self-cleaning of the uterine cavity, cervical canal and vagina through the monthly release of menstrual blood;

participation in the process of sexual intercourse and the creation of conditions for the transport of spermatozoa through the cervical canal into the uterine cavity and to the tubes;

the function of implantation in the uterus of a fertilized egg with the creation of conditions for the development of the embryo and fetus during pregnancy, the expulsion of the fetus during childbirth.

together with its ligamentous apparatus, the uterus makes up and strengthens the pelvic floor.

The uterus of a woman 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 the normal state, the longitudinal axis of the uterus is oriented along the small pelvis. At the same time, the filled bladder and the bladder can tilt it slightly forward. The surface of the uterus is almost completely covered by the peritoneum (except for the vaginal part of the cervix). This organ has a pear-shaped shape, which is slightly flattened in the anteroposterior direction. The uterus of a woman has the following layers (starting from the inner): 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: dimensions

The length of this organ in women is on average 7-8 centimeters, the width is 4, and the thickness is 2-3 cm. 50 units. This difference in weight is due to the fact that during pregnancy the muscular membrane of the organ becomes hypertrophied. The volume of the uterus is approximately 5-6 cubic centimeters.

Parts of the female organ

The uterus of a woman is divided into the following parts:

1. Bottom - the convex upper part of the organ, which protrudes above the edge of the fallopian tubes.

2. The body is the most massive part of the uterus, which has a conical shape.

3. The neck is a narrowed and rounded part of the body. 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 supravaginal.

The vaginal section of this organ carries the opening of the uterus, which leads from the vagina to the cervical canal, and then into its cavity. In nulliparous representatives of the weaker sex, this area has an oval shape, and in those who have already endured childbirth, it looks like a transverse slit. 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.

Functions of the uterus

In this organ, the development of the embryo and its further gestation 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 is also due to overwatering of connective tissues and hypertrophy of myocytes. As you know, this organ has developed muscles, due to which the uterus takes an active part in the birth of a child, or rather, in the expulsion of the fetus from its cavity.

Lies behind the bladder and in front of the rectum, mesoperitoneally. From below, the body of the uterus passes into a rounded part - the cervix. The length of the uterus in a woman of reproductive age is on average 7-8 cm, width - 4 cm, thickness - 2-3 cm. for muscle hypertrophy during pregnancy. The volume of the uterine cavity is ≈ 5 - 6 cm³.

The uterus as an organ is largely mobile and, depending on the state of neighboring organs, can occupy a different position. Normally, the longitudinal axis of the uterus is oriented along the axis of the pelvis (anteflexio). A full bladder and rectum tilt the uterus forward into an anteversio position. Most of the surface of the uterus is covered by the peritoneum, with the exception of the vaginal part of the cervix. The uterus is pear-shaped, flattened in the dorsoventral (anteroposterior) direction. Layers of the uterine wall (starting from the outer layer): parametrium, myometrium and endometrium. The body just above the isthmus and the abdominal part of the cervix are covered with adventitia from the outside.

Anatomy

Parts of the uterus

Parts of the uterus

The uterus consists of the following parts:

• Fundus of the uterus- This is the upper convex part of the uterus, protruding above the line where the fallopian tubes enter the uterus.
• The body of the uterus- The middle (largest) part of the organ has a conical shape.
• Cervix- The lower narrowed rounded part of the uterus.

Functions

The uterus is the organ in which the development of the embryo and gestation takes place. Due to the high elasticity of the walls, the uterus can increase in volume several times during pregnancy. But along with the "stretching" of the walls of the uterus, also during pregnancy, due to hypertrophy of myocytes and overwatering of the connective tissue, the uterus increases significantly in size. Being an organ with developed muscles, the uterus is actively involved in the expulsion of the fetus during childbirth.

Pathologies

Anomalies of development

• Aplasia (Agenesia) of the uterus- extremely rarely, the uterus may be completely absent. There may be a small infantile uterus, usually with a pronounced anterior fold.
• Doubling of the body of the uterus- a defect in the development of the uterus, which is characterized by a doubling of the uterus or its body, which occurs due to the incomplete fusion of the two Müllerian ducts at the stage of early embryonic development. As a result, a woman with a double uterus may have one or two cervixes and one vagina. With complete non-fusion of these ducts, two uteruses with two necks and two vaginas develop.
• Intrauterine septum- incomplete fusion of the embryonic rudiments of the uterus in various variants, can lead to the presence of a septum in the uterus - a "bicornuate" uterus with a clearly visible sagittal depression at the bottom or a "saddle" uterus without a septum in the cavity, but with a notch at the bottom. With a bicornuate uterus, one of the horns may be very small, rudimentary, and sometimes laced.

Diseases

A symptom of many diseases of the uterus can be uterine leucorrhoea.

• Prolapse and prolapse of the uterus- Prolapse of the uterus or a change in its position in the pelvic cavity and its displacement down the inguinal canal is called complete or partial prolapse of the uterus. In rare cases, the uterus slips right into the vagina. In mild cases of uterine prolapse, the cervix protrudes forward at the bottom of the genital fissure. In some cases, the cervix falls into the genital gap, and in especially severe cases, the entire uterus falls out. Uterine prolapse is described depending on which part of the uterus protrudes forward. Patients often complain about the sensation of a foreign body in the genital slit. Treatment can be either conservative or surgical, depending on the individual case.
• uterine fibroids- A benign tumor that develops in the muscular membrane of the uterus. It consists mainly of elements of muscle tissue, and partly of connective tissue, also called fibromyoma.

• Polyps of the uterus- Pathological proliferation of the glandular epithelium, endometrium or endocervix against the background of a chronic inflammatory process. In the genesis of polyps, especially uterine ones, hormonal disorders play a role.

• Uterine cancer- Malignant neoplasms in the uterus.
  • Cancer of the body of the uterus- cancer of the body of the uterus means cancer of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus), which spreads to the walls of the uterus.
  • Cervical cancer- a malignant tumor, localized in the region of the cervix.

• endometriosis A disease in which cells of the endometrium (the innermost layer of the uterine wall) grow outside of this layer. Since the endometrioid tissue has receptors for hormones, the same changes occur in it as in the normal endometrium, manifested by monthly bleeding. These small bleedings lead to inflammation in the surrounding tissues and cause the main manifestations of the disease: pain, an increase in the volume of the organ, infertility. Treatment of endometriosis is carried out with agonists of gonadotropin-releasing hormones (Decapeptyl depot, Diferelin, Buserelin-depot)

• endometritis- Inflammation of the lining of the uterus. With this disease, the functional and basal layers of the uterine mucosa are affected. When inflammation of the muscular layer of the uterus joins it, they talk about endomyometritis.

• Cervical erosion- This is a defect in the epithelial lining of the vaginal part of the cervix. There are true and false erosion of the cervix:
  • true erosion- refers to acute inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs and is a frequent companion of cervicitis and vaginitis. It occurs, as a rule, against the background of general inflammation in the cervix caused by sexually transmitted infections or the conditionally pathogenic flora of the vagina, under the influence of mechanical factors, malnutrition of the cervical tissue, menstrual irregularities, and hormonal levels.
  • Ectopia (pseudo-erosion)- there is a common misconception that ectopia is a response of the body to the appearance of erosion, as the body tries to replace the defect in the mucous membrane of the vaginal (outer) part of the cervix with a cylindrical epithelium lining the uterine (inner) part of the cervical canal. Often this confusion arises from the outdated point of view of some doctors. In fact, ectopia is an independent disease that has little to do with true erosion. The following types of pseudo-erosion are divided:
    • congenital ectopia- in which the cylindrical epithelium can be located outside the external cervical os in newborns or move there during puberty.
    • Acquired ectopia- ruptures of the cervix during abortions lead to deformation of the cervical canal, resulting in post-traumatic ectopia of the cylindrical epithelium (ectopion). Often (but not always) accompanied by an inflammatory process.

Diagnostics

• General clinical tests (blood, urine, biochemistry)
• Colposcopy (extended, Schiller test, methylene blue test)
• Histological examination during targeted biopsy
• Hormonal profile
• Hysteroscopy
• Laparoscopy

Operations

Links

1. BSE.sci-lib.com. - The meaning of the word "womb" in the Great Soviet Encyclopedia. Archived
2. Spravochnik-anatomia.ru. - Article "Uterus" in the Handbook of Human Anatomy. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2008.
3. Golkom.ru. - Article "Uterus" in the Concise Medical Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on August 24, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2008.

Notes

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

The uterus of a woman is an organ provided by evolution for carrying and giving birth to a child. What does a woman's uterus look like? It is similar in shape to a pear or has the form of a cone truncated downwards, hollow inside, is an organ of the reproductive system. The place where the uterus is located is the central part of the female pelvic cavity, reliably protected by the pelvic bone frame, muscles, adipose tissue for complete and reliable protection during pregnancy. The structure of the uterus of a woman is so thought out that it is difficult to find a more protected organ.

Topography

Where is a woman's uterus located? It is located inside the pelvic cavity behind the bladder and in front of the rectum. In the place where the uterus is located in a woman, the sheets of the peritoneum cover its front wall up to the neck, and from behind including the neck, which contributes to the division of space into separate anatomical zones. Along the edges of the two peritoneal sheets, uniting, they participate in the formation of ligaments. Topographically distinguished:

• The anterior surface is the part of the organ located in front of the bladder. In front of it is a vesicular cellular space filled with fatty tissue, in which the lymph nodes and lymphatic ducts are located.
• The posterior surface is located anterior to the rectum. Between it and the intestine, a retrouterine space is formed, filled with fiber with lymphatic collectors.
• Right and left ribs of the uterus.

The adipose tissue surrounding on all sides - parametric fiber - is the place where the supplying arterial vessels, veins pass, lymph nodes and ducts can be located.

The volume of the female uterus is about 4.5 cubic centimeters, the average size is 7x4x3.5 cm. The way a woman’s uterus may look like, its shape, size, volume depends on how many births the woman had. The parameters of the organ of women who have given birth and who have not given birth are different. The uterus of a woman who has given birth weighs almost twice as much as that of a woman who has not given birth. On average, the weight is from 50 to 70 g. In order to show how the basic physiological function of this small organ is carried out, we consider the main features of the structure.

Anatomical structure

The anatomy of the uterus is due to the main physiological function of the organ. Different parts of the organ are supplied with blood in different ways, the outflow of lymph occurs in different collectors, which is important to consider during surgical interventions on the organ. This plays a key role in determining the tactics of treating pathological processes. Three areas are anatomically distinguished:

• The body of the uterus is the largest part in volume, forms the uterine cavity. On a section of a triangular truncated shape.
• The bottom is the anatomical part of the organ, forming an elevation above the place where the fallopian tubes open.
• The neck is a cylindrical hollow tube up to three centimeters long that connects the body to the vagina.

Body

The body of the uterus is the most voluminous anatomical part of the organ, it owns about two-thirds of the total volume. It is here that the implantation of a fertilized egg, the formation of the placenta, the growth and development of the child take place. It has the shape of a truncated cone, with its base turned upwards, forming a physiological bend.

In the upper part of the body, on the right and left along the edges, the fallopian tubes flow into its lumen, through which the egg from the ovary enters the organ cavity.

Bottom

The topmost part of the organ. If you mentally connect the points where the fallopian tubes open with a straight line passing through the body of the uterus, then the dome-shaped overhang of the body part forms the bottom. It is by the height of the bottom that the gestational age is determined.

Neck

Topographically, the place where the cervix is ​​located in front and behind is surrounded by cellular spaces: in front - cystic, behind - rectal. The neck is covered with a sheet of peritoneum only along its posterior surface. The structure of the cervix is ​​due to the physiological functions performed. This is a hollow tube that connects the uterine cavity to the vagina. It accounts for a third of the length of the entire organ. In the neck, parts of various structures are distinguished:

• Isthmus. This is a small area of ​​physiological narrowing in the lower part of the body of the uterus, the place of transition to the cervical part.
• The vaginal area of ​​the cervical part directly faces the inside of the vagina and communicates with it through an opening - the external pharynx. The vaginal part is clearly visible during a gynecological examination.
• The supravaginal region is the part of the cervix that faces the uterine cavity.
• The cervical canal connects the vagina through the uterine os with the uterine cavity.

The allocation of various anatomical regions in a small part of the organ, which is the cervical part, is due to the peculiarities of its structure.

The structure of the walls of the organ

The structure of the uterine wall has clearly defined three layers:

• External serous - it is formed by a sheet of peritoneum, lining the organ from the outside - perimetrium.
• The middle muscle, representing several layers of muscle tissue, is the myometrium.
• The internal, lining organ from the inside, which is a mucous membrane - the endometrium.

The layers of the uterus have some differences depending on the functional purpose of its individual parts.

Perimeter shell

It covers the body from the outside, is a sheet of peritoneum lining all the organs of the abdominal cavity. Perimetry is a continuation of the serous membrane of the bladder, continuing and covering the uterine surface.

Muscular membrane

The middle shell, represented by muscle fibers, has a rather complex structure. Its thickness in different parts of the body is different. In the area of ​​the bottom, the muscular membrane of the uterus has the greatest thickness. This is due to the need for the muscle to contract and expel the fetus during childbirth. The severity of the muscular layer of the bottom area is also different in the pregnant and non-pregnant uterus, reaching a thickness of four centimeters by the time of delivery.

The fibers of muscle tissue have a three-dimensional direction, are tightly intertwined with each other, forming a fairly reliable frame, between the components of which there are elastin and connective tissue fibers.

The size and volume of the uterus change over time due to changes in the thickness and size of the fibers of the muscle layer. Many factors influence this process, but the changing level of sex hormones in different periods of a woman's life is of primary importance. Significantly increasing during pregnancy and childbirth, the uterus shrinks again, acquiring the same size, 6-8 weeks after the birth of the child.

Only thanks to such a complex structure of the myometrium is it possible to maintain pregnancy, gestation and childbirth.

Inner lining of the uterus

The endometrium is represented by a cylindrical epithelium with a large number of glands, it is two-layered:

• Superficially located functional layer.
• The basal layer, located under the functional.

The surface layer of the endometrium is represented by a glandular cylindrical epithelium in structure, containing a large number of glands, on the surface of its cells there are receptors for sex hormones. Able to change in thickness at different periods of a woman's reproductive cycle under the influence of a changing hormonal background. It is this layer of the epithelial cover that is rejected during menstrual bleeding, and a fertilized egg is implanted into it.

The basal layer is a thin layer of connective tissue, tightly connected with the muscle layer, participating in the formation of a single, functionally coordinated mechanism.

Features of the internal structure of the neck

The internal structure of this small part of the uterus has its own differences, due to the functional loads performed:

• The cervix is ​​covered with an outer serous membrane only at the back.
• It has a thin, not very pronounced layer of smooth muscle fibers, a sufficient amount of collagen. This structure contributes to a change in the size of the canal during childbirth. The opening of the cervix during labor reaches 12 cm.
• A large number of mucous glands produce a secret that closes the lumen of the canal, which contributes to the performance of the barrier and protective function.
• The inner epithelial layer of the canal is represented by a columnar epithelium, the area of ​​the external os is covered with stratified squamous epithelium. Between these parts of the neck there is a so-called transition zone. Pathological changes in the structure of the epithelial cover of this area often occur, leading to the occurrence of dysplasia, oncological diseases. Absolutely shown is the special close attention to this area during the examination by a gynecologist.

Functions

The function of the uterus in a woman's body is difficult to overestimate. Being a barrier to the penetration of infection, it is involved in the direct regulation of the hormonal state. The key purpose is the implementation of the reproductive function. Without it, the process of implantation, bearing and birth of a child is impossible. The birth of a new person, an increase in the population, ensuring the transfer of genetic material are possible only thanks to a woman, the well-coordinated work of the organs of her reproductive system.

That is why the problems of maintaining women's health in all countries of the world are not only of purely medical, but also of social significance.