The Uterus Flashcards

1
Q

What are the physical characteristics of the uterus?

A
  • hollow
  • pear-shaped
  • thick-walled
  • muscular
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2
Q

Where is the uterus situated?

A
  • between the bladder and the rectum
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3
Q

What happens to the uterus during and after pregnancy?

A
  • during pregnancy it enlarges considerably
  • soon after birth it almost returns to its original size
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4
Q

What is the lower part of the uterus called?

A
  • the cervix
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5
Q

Where does the cervix go?

A
  • it projects into the vagina
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6
Q

How large is the opening of the cervix normally?

A
  • normally only millimetres in diameter
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7
Q

Why does the cervix have an opening (aside from to birth a child)?

A
  • to allow menstrual blood to leave the body
  • and sperm to gain access
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8
Q

What keeps the uterus closed during pregnancy and why?

A
  • the sphincter muscles of the cervix
  • to prevent a miscarriage
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9
Q

What does the uterine wall consist of?

A
  • myometrium
  • endometrium
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10
Q

What is the myometrium?

A
  • a thick, involuntary muscle layer of the uterine wall
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11
Q

What is the endometrium?

A
  • a lining of the uterine wall that is richly supplied with blood vessels
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12
Q

Why do the walls of the uterus need to be thick?

A
  • so that it can stretch when a baby develops inside it
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13
Q

What happens to the endometrium at ovulation?

A
  • progesterone causes the endometrium to thicken
  • to prepare for the implantation of the blastocyst
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14
Q

What happens to the endometrium if fertilisation does not occur?

A
  • the upper layer of the endometrium becomes detached
  • and is passed out together with the unfertilised egg
  • (menstruation)
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15
Q

What are the functions of the uterus?

A
  1. The uterus is the organ in which the blastocyst implants, develops and grows
  2. The contraction of the myometrium enables the baby to be pushed out during birth
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16
Q

What does the myometrium do?

A
  • contracts to enable the baby to be pushed out during birth