The Uterus Flashcards
1
Q
What are the physical characteristics of the uterus?
A
- hollow
- pear-shaped
- thick-walled
- muscular
2
Q
Where is the uterus situated?
A
- between the bladder and the rectum
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
4
Q
What is the lower part of the uterus called?
A
- the cervix
5
Q
Where does the cervix go?
A
- it projects into the vagina
6
Q
How large is the opening of the cervix normally?
A
- normally only millimetres in diameter
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
8
Q
What keeps the uterus closed during pregnancy and why?
A
- the sphincter muscles of the cervix
- to prevent a miscarriage
9
Q
What does the uterine wall consist of?
A
- myometrium
- endometrium
10
Q
What is the myometrium?
A
- a thick, involuntary muscle layer of the uterine wall
11
Q
What is the endometrium?
A
- a lining of the uterine wall that is richly supplied with blood vessels
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
13
Q
What happens to the endometrium at ovulation?
A
- progesterone causes the endometrium to thicken
- to prepare for the implantation of the blastocyst
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)
15
Q
What are the functions of the uterus?
A
- The uterus is the organ in which the blastocyst implants, develops and grows
- The contraction of the myometrium enables the baby to be pushed out during birth
16
Q
What does the myometrium do?
A
- contracts to enable the baby to be pushed out during birth
