Uterus

Abstract

The uterus is situated in the pelvic cavity between the rectum posteriorly and the urinary bladder anteriorly. The body of the uterus (uterine corpus) comprises the superior part and this is joined to the cervix, which comprises the inferior portion of the uterus (Figure 23.1). The length of the uterus varies widely depending on the parity and the menopausal status but generally ranges from 5–15 cm in those uteri which are not involved by any specific pathologic process. The weight of the uterus also varies widely between 20 and 120 g. Multigravid uteri are considerably larger than nulligravid uteri. The uterus is lined by an inner endometrium composed of endometrial glands and stroma. Most of the wall is composed of myometrial smooth muscle. The lumen of the uterus is connected to the lumen of the fallopian tubes.