The UterusBy Bret

Ford

BIO 120 Spring 2012

The uterus, also known as “the womb,” is a pear-shaped organ of the female reproductive system. Although normally only 3” x 2,” the uterus serves as a nutrient- rich environment for a fetus to develop until birth.

What is the uterus?

The lining of the uterus, called the “endometrium,” builds up each month in preparation for a fertilized egg. If no egg arrives, the lining is shed through menstruation, commonly referred to as a “period.”

The muscles of the uterus are among the strongest in the entire female body, and as a result the uterus is able to stretch and push babies out during childbirth.

The shape and strength of the uterus are also essential in providing support for other vital parts, including the bladder and colon.

What happens in the uterus?

Where is the uterus located?

• The uterus is located within the pelvic cavity, above and behind the bladder.

• At its top, the uterus is connected to the

two fallopian tubes, which in turn are connected to the ovaries, which release a woman’s eggs.

• At its bottom, the uterus is joined with the cervix, which regulates the flow in and out of the uterus. The cervix is connected to the vagina, which houses the external female genitalia.

What does the uterus look like?

Although the uterus is normally represented by the shape on the left, the picture on the right

illustrates what an actual, healthy uterus looks like.

Like any other part of the body, the uterus is subject to ailments and disease. Common conditions include fibroids and endometriosis, but some women also develop uterine cancer.

Women can greatly reduce the risk of uterine cancer by getting regular exercise, losing weight if obese, and by not smoking.

Women should see a doctor regularly and communicate any unusual or disturbing symptoms of disorder within the reproductive system.

How is a uterus kept healthy?

Images retrieved from:http://www.uptodate.com/contents/image?imageKey=PI/18512

http://www.beliefnet.com/healthandhealing/getcontent.aspx?cid=14798http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5918

http://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/uterus-section-3d-model/385060http://ptlsisreal.blogspot.com/p/types-of-tubal-ligation.html

Works Cited

What does the uterus do? News Medical, Retrieved from http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-Does-the-Uterus-Do.aspx

Female reproductive system. KidsHealth, Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/female_reproductive_system.html#