The uterus is one of a woman's reproductive organs. Without the uterus, the development of human life is not possible. This is where a fertilized egg matures, develops into a foetus and is finally born as a new human being.
Below you can find out how the organ works in detail, where exactly it is located and how big it is. You will also find selected specialists for diseases of the uterus here.
The uterus is essential for reproduction in humans and mammals. The uterus is where the fertilized eggs implant in their early embryonic stage. The fetus remains here until it is developed enough to leave the mother's body. The uterus serves to protect and nourish the foetus during its development.
The uterus is a muscular organ. During the birth phase, it plays a key role in enabling the child to leave the mother's body through the small pelvis.
In the human body, the uterus is located in the center of the female abdomen. The anterior part lies on the bladder, the posterior part is adjacent to the rectum.
The uterus and these two neighboring organs are covered in their entirety by the peritoneum. This creates peritoneal pits between the individual organs. The exact position of the uterus depends on the respective filling volume of the rectum and the bladder.
The uterus is anchored in the pelvis so that it does not slide downwards due to gravity. This is achieved by
The parametrium is a frontal plate consisting of connective tissue. It is reinforced by several ligaments, including the ligaments that extend towards the sacral cavity. These ligaments hold the uterus in a flexible floating position, which is supported by the pelvic muscles.
The uterus is a hollow organ that resembles an upside-down pear in shape.
The weight of the uterus varies between 30 and 120 grams. There are also considerable differences in size. As a rule, the uterus is around seven centimetres long, three centimetres thick and five centimetres wide.
The dimensions change drastically during pregnancy. Shortly before birth, the size is comparable to that of two small footballs. The weight of the muscle mass alone increases to around 500 grams. No other human organ is capable of such massive changes.
The anatomy of the female reproductive organs © bilderzwerg | AdobeStock
The anatomical structure of the uterus is roughly divided into two parts:
The body of the uterus is by far the largest part of the uterus, accounting for around two thirds of the total volume. At the upper ends, the corpus uteri connects to the uterinefundus and merges into the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes connect the uterus to the ovaries.
The uterine wall consists of three layers. The outer layer is surrounded by the peritoneum and connective tissue. The middle layer consists of strong muscle mass. The inner layer is a mucous membrane, the endometrium. This is where fertilized eggs nest.
The endometrium is in a constant process of renewal. If no pregnancy has occurred, the mucous membrane is broken down and excreted during menstruation.
However, if a fertilized egg has implanted, the endometrium contributes to the formation of the placenta. In this case, it is expelled after birth together with the placenta as an afterbirth.
Between the cervix and the body of the uterus lies the isthmus, which is around five to ten millimetres long. It is also particularly narrow.
The lower part of the organ is thecervix uteri. It encloses the cervical canal, the canalis cervicis. This canal begins with the external cervix, which protrudes into the vagina. It ends in the inner cervix.
The cervix is the inner part of the cervical canal. With a diameter of around three millimetres, it is by far the narrowest part of the cervical canal.
Size of the uterus in a heavily pregnant woman © turhanerbas | AdobeStock
Around 70 percent of all women suffer from a mostly benign disease of the uterus in the course of their lives. The most common are fibroids or polyps.
Myomas develop from the muscle mass of the uterus. The hormones oestrogen and progesterone have a major influence on the growth of these tumors. Therefore, no tumors usually form before the onset of puberty.
Fibroids usually occur more frequently in women over 30 . In many cases, they recede with the onset of the menopause. The fibroids often remain undetected as they do not cause any symptoms. Treatment is then not necessary.
However, sometimes fibroids do cause symptoms, such as
Polyps develop from the mucous membrane of the uterus or cervix. In this case too, doctors attribute the growth to the influence of hormones.
Polyps usually occur before the onset and during the menopause. Between three and 16 percent of women are affected by polyps. If you experience heavy bleeding or labor-like pain, polyps may be responsible.
In contrast to benign fibroids and polyps, carcinomas are malignant.
They usually develop on the cervix(cervical cancer), more rarely directly in the uterine body(uterine body cancer).
Depending on the stage of the cancer, it can also spread to other organs. These metastases require complex treatments, such as
Regular attendance at check-ups is therefore very important.
Cysts are cavities in the tissue that become encapsulated. Tissue fluid, pus or blood can be found inside these cysts. As long as they do not burst, cysts do not cause any health problems in most cases.
Problems can occur if the cysts have formed on the ovaries or other sensitive areas. Ovarian cysts can also lead to stalk torsion, which can be associated with severe abdominal pain. Here, as with a cyst rupture (bursting of the cyst), an urgent laparoscopy is required.
Cysts are usually detected by ultrasound.
A disruption in the hormonal cycle is often the trigger for their formation. This explains why cysts only occur in women of reproductive age.
In addition to bleeding disorders, functional cysts also cause pain during certain movements, depending on their location.
Polycystic ovaries, also known as PCO syndrome, are a hormonal disorder. It is caused by the structure and impaired functionality of the ovary. They occur in up to twelve percent of all women of childbearing age.
The cause is a disorder that leads to increased levels of androgenic hormones. This results in fertility problems and cycle disorders.
Symptoms of PCO syndrome are
At the same time, numerous small cysts appear on the ovaries, which can be detected by ultrasound.
Endometriosis is one of the more common diseases affecting the internal genitals. Up to 15 percent of all women are affected by this often painful disease.
Endometriosis is the growth of the uterine lining outside the uterine cavity. The lining of the uterus spreads via the peritoneum, the intestines or the ovaries. In some cases, the vaginal wall is also affected by the uncontrolled growth of the mucous membrane. In rare cases, other organs outside the abdominal cavity can also be affected.
Endometriosis often progresses without any symptoms. However, many of those affected suffer from
during the menstrual period. This is occasionally accompanied by back pain and pain during sexual intercourse. The unchecked growth of the mucous membrane can lead to fertility problems.
Endometriosis is often associated with adenomyosis. This is an ingrowth of endometrium-like tissue into the muscle wall of the uterus. This often results in particularly painful menstrual or intermenstrual bleeding.
If endometriosis is suspected, an early laparoscopy is advisable.
The most common uterine diseases do not cause any serious health problems.
Nevertheless, take advantage of the offer of a regular check-up!
