Uterus Flashcards
What is the uterus?
Thick walled, pear shaped muscular organ of gestation located in lesser pelvis
What general structures make up the uterus?
Body and Cervix
What structures make up the body of the uterus?
uterine cavity, uterine horns, fundus, isthmus
What is the body of the uterus?
Freely movable superior 2/3 of uterus
What are the surfaces of the body (uterus)?
Vesical surface- adjacent to urinary bladder
Intestinal surface- adjacent to rectum
What is the uterine cavity?
narrow, slit like lumen about 6cm in length
What are the uterine horns?
superolateral origins of uterine tubes
What is the fundus?
rounded part of body superior to the uterine horns
What is the isthmus?
short, constricted region just superior to cervix
What is the cervix?
Cylindrical inferior portion of uterus protruding into vagina
What is the cervix divided into?
Supravaginal and Vaginal part
Where is the Supravaginal part of the cervix?
between the isthmus and vagina
What is the supravaginal part of the cervix separated from the rectum by?
posteriorly by rectouterine pouch
Where does the vaginal part of the cervix protrude and what is it surrounded by?
Protrudes into vagina and surrounded by vaginal fornix
What structures are located within the vaginal part of the cervix?
internal os, external os and cervical canal
what is the internal os?
internal opening to uterine cavity of isthmus
What is the external os?
external opening to the vagina
What is the cervical canal?
spans cervix from internal os to external os
How is the adult uterus oriented, relative to the vagina?
anteverted
How is the adult uterus oriented, relative to the cervix?
anteflexed
What does the uterine body normally lie on/is supported by?
urinary bladder
T/F: The uterine position doesn’t change as urinary bladder and/or rectum fill?
False, moves for both
Histological layers of the uterus?
perimetrium, myometrium and endometrium
What is the perimetrium layer of the uterus?
Thin outer serosal covering
What is the myometrium?
Thickest layer comprised of irregularly arranged smooth muscle
-Changes drastically during pregnancy (but not during menstrual cycle)
What is the endometrium?
thins mucosal lining; site of blastocyst implantation
-Changes dramatically during each menstrual cycle
What are the ligaments of the uterus and ovaries?
Broad lig. of the uterus Round lig. of uterus Ovarian lig. Suspensory lig. of ovary Cardinal lig. Uterosacral lig. Pubocervical lig.