HEALTH INSIGHTS

Anatomy of the Uterus

June 04, 2019

Anatomy of the Uterus

Anatomy of the female pelvic area

The uterus is part of the female reproductive system. It's where an egg is fertilized and a baby grows. You may know it as the womb. The uterus is hollow and pear-shaped. It is about the size of a fist. It is located in your lower belly (abdomen) or pelvic area. Your uterus is connected to your fallopian tubes. These tubes help carry eggs from your ovaries into the uterus. The small opening that connects the uterus to your vagina is the cervix. The broader, upper part of the uterus is called the corpus or fundus.

The uterus has 3 layers:

  • Endometrium. This is the inner lining which is shed during your period.

  • Myometrium. This is the thick middle muscle layer of the corpus. This expands during pregnancy to hold the growing fetus. It contracts during labor to push the baby out.

  • Serosa. This is the smooth outer layer. It covers the uterus and makes it easy for the uterus to move in the pelvis as needed.

In women who still have their periods, one ovary releases an egg into a fallopian tube each month. During this time, the endometrium becomes thicker to prepare for a fertilized egg. The egg enters the uterus, and if it isn’t fertilized, it leaves the uterus through the vagina. Your endometrial lining is shed during your menstrual period. If the egg joins with a male sperm cell, this fertilized egg attaches to the endometrium. The uterus protects the growing fetus during pregnancy. During labor, the muscles of the myometrium help push the baby out through the cervix.

The balance of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone maintain this healthy process. Your ovaries make most of these hormones.

Updated:  

June 04, 2019

Reviewed By:  

Goodman, Howard, MD,Stump-Sutliff, Kim, RN, MSN, AOCNS