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UTERUS
Is thick walled interposed
between fallopian tubes and
vagina.
Receives fertilized ovum, &
all embryonic & fetal
development occurs in it.
Pear shaped, flattened in a
dorsoventral direction, 8 cm
4 cm, 2 cm.
Female reproductive system
Two main portions:
(1) expanded upper portion,
body (corpus uteri),
(2) lowermost, cylindrical
portion, neck (cervix), a part of
which projects into vagina as
the portio vaginalis.
Fundus is rounded upper end of
body, from which fallopian
tubes extend.
Isthmus is narrow zone of
transition between body &
cervix.
Cervical canal passes through
cervix and communicates
above with uterine cavity at the
internal os, below with vagina
at external os.
Female reproductive system
Wall of uterus has three
layers:
1.Outer layer, serosa
(perimetrium).
2. Middle layer, muscularis
(myometrium).
3. Inner layer, mucosa
(endometrium).
Female reproductive system
Perimetrium
Is a typical serosa,
mesothelial cells supported
by a thin layer of c. tissue.
Continuous on each side
with peritoneum of broad
ligament
Is deficient over the lower
half of the anterior surface,
where lies urinary bladder.
Here, in the absence of
peritoneum, myometrium is
covered by c. tissue, or
adventitia.
Female reproductive
system
Myometrium
Smooth muscle, 12 to 15 mm
in thickness.
Muscle fibers are arranged
in bundles, separated by c.
tissue.
During pregnancy fibers
increase greatly in size &
length.
In spite of increase in
muscle mass, myometrium
is thinned during pregnancy.
Female reproductive system
Three layers of muscle may
be distinguished, although
ill-defined due to presence
of interconnecting bundles:
1. An inner muscular layer,
mostly of longitudinally
arranged fibers, stratum
subvasculare
2. A thick middle layer,
circular & oblique ms. fibers
with numerous b. vs,
stratum vasculare.
3. An outer, thin, longitudinal
muscle layer immediately
beneath perimetrium,
stratum supravasculare
Female reproductive
system
Endometrium (mucosa),
Firmly adherent to underlying
myometrium, goes under
cyclic changes in response to
ovarian secretory activity.
Menstrual Stage.
Functional layer necrosis &
is shed.
After few hours, spiral
arteries relax, their walls
break, blood is added to
secretion of glands &
necrotic endometrial tissue.
Patches of tissue separate &
are lost. Blood oozes from
veins exposed by shedding
process.
Female reproductive system
Menstrual discharge thus
contains arterial & venous
blood, disintegrated
epithelial & stromal cells,&
glandular secretions.
Finally, entire functional
layer is lost, leaving a raw
surface.
Surviving basal layer
remains intact, surface
epithelium is restored after
menstrual discharge ceases.