The uterus is an organ that is part of the female reproductive system.
The uterus is an organ that is part of the reproductive system of females and women . The term comes from the Latin utĕrus and is also known as womb or womb .
In the case of the human species, the uterus resembles the appearance of a pear, it is hollow and is located in the pelvis , between the vagina and the fallopian tubes. Pregnancy takes place inside the uterus and lasts for around 280 days.
It is possible to divide the uterus into mouth, neck or cervix, base or fund and body. The base is oriented upward and forward, while the neck is directed slightly backward. The cervix is responsible for joining the uterus to the vagina.
Location of the uterus
On the sides of the uterus are the ovaries , responsible for producing the eggs that reach it through the fallopian tubes. The fertilized egg implants in the uterus and grows until it reaches maturity. Thanks to the elasticity of the uterus, this organ can increase its size during pregnancy and accommodate the growth of the fetus . The average measurement of the uterus when pregnancy does not occur is 7.6 centimeters in length, 5 centimeters in width and 2.5 centimeters in thickness.
No less important is the fact that the uterus is supported by a series of elements such as the diaphragms (urogenital and pelvic), the peritoneum and the ligaments. Among the latter are mainly the cardinal ones, the uterus-sacrum, which goes from the posterior cervix to the sacral bone, and the pubocervical bone.
Regarding the walls of the uterus, three layers of cells can be recognized: the perimetrium (the tissue that extends along the sides of the uterus), the myometrium (made up of smooth muscle tissue) and the endometrium (a mucosal surface that, when there is no fertilization , it regenerates with each menstruation).
The development of the fetus occurs inside the uterus.
Diseases that can affect you
In addition to all of the above, it is important that we establish or know the most common set of diseases that affect this part of the female body and, therefore, also the woman's reproductive system:
- Endometriosis . This pathology is defined because it is one that causes the tissue that is responsible for lining the aforementioned uterus to grow outside of it.
- Fibroids . Pain and abundant bleeding are the main consequences that any woman who suffers from those that are defined as non-cancerous masses that arise in the aforementioned organ have to face.
- Cervical cancer . The second most common type of cancer among the female population is this one, which has different causes and among them is the human papillomavirus, which is the one that is spread through sexual relations. However, it can be caused by other reasons such as tobacco consumption, diabetes, high blood pressure, early age at the beginning of sexual activity or exposure to high levels of estrogen. Bleeding after intercourse or a considerable increase in vaginal secretions, which are also characterized by their bad odor, are two of the symptoms that identify that a woman may suffer from this type of cancer.