Uterus of a woman: sizes, main parts, functions

The woman's uterus is a smooth-muscular hollow organ (unpaired), in which the embryo can develop and bear fruit. 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 rectum and bladder can tilt it a little bit. The surface of the uterus is almost completely covered with the peritoneum (except for the vaginal part of the cervix). This organ has a pear-shaped shape, which is slightly flattened in anteroposterior direction. The woman's uterus has the following layers (starting from the inner): endometrium, myometrium and parameters. Outside, the neck of the organ, or rather its abdominal part (just above the isthmus) is covered with adventitia.

Uterus of the woman: dimensions

The length of this organ in women of reproductive age averages 7-8 centimeters, width - 4, and thickness - 2-3 cm. The weight of the uterus in women giving birth to the weaker sex can reach 80 grams, while in nulliparous girls this index varies from 40 to 50 units. This difference in weight is due to the fact that during pregnancy the muscular membrane of the organ becomes hypertrophic. The volume of the uterus is about 5-6 cubic centimeters.

Parts of the female organ

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

1. The bottom is the convex upper part of the organ that protrudes above the margin of entry of the fallopian tubes.

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

3. Neck - narrowed and rounded part of the organ. The lowest part of this part passes into the vaginal cavity. In connection with this, the cervix is also called vaginal. The upper region is called supravaginal.

The vaginal section of this organ carries a hole in the uterus that leads from the vagina to the cervical canal and then into its cavity. In nulliparous women, this area has an oval shape, and those who have already borne birth - a kind of transverse slit. What a woman's womb looks like, you can see in this article. The photos of the organ and the schematic images give an idea of this.

Functions of the uterus

In this body, the embryo develops and its subsequent bearing in the form of a fetus. Due to the fact that the uterus has highly elastic walls, it can grow quite large in volume and size. This is due to the over-conversion of connective tissues and hypertrophy of myocytes. As you know, this body has developed musculature, 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.

Currently, there are a huge number of diseases that lead to a change in the position of the uterus, its normal state, etc. (cancer, myoma, polyps, erosion, endometritis, omission, prolapse , etc.). To avoid such pathologies, women should visit the gynecologist 2-3 times a year, as well as undergo a complete examination of the body.