uterus

Also known as hystera, uterine, womb

The uterus (from Latin uterus, : uteri or uteruses) or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans, that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more fertilized eggs until birth. The uterus is a hormone-responsive sex organ that contains glands in its lining that secrete uterine milk for embryonic nourishment. (The term uterus is also applied to analogous structures in some non-mammalian animals.)

AI overview

The uterus, also called the womb, is an organ in the female reproductive system that holds and nourishes a developing embryo and fetus until birth. It responds to hormones and produces special secretions that feed the growing baby during pregnancy.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Anatomy.Name: Uterus
Anatomy.Latin: uterus
Anatomy.Greek: ὑστέρα (hystéra)
Anatomy.Image: Illu_cervix.svg
Anatomy.Caption: Diagram of human uterus and surrounding structures
Anatomy.Width: 260
Anatomy.Precursor: Paramesonephric ducts
Anatomy.System: Reproductive system
Anatomy.Artery: Ovarian artery and uterine artery
Anatomy.Vein: Uterine veins
Anatomy.Lymph: Body and cervix to internal iliac lymph nodes, fundus to para-aortic lymph nodes, lumbar and superficial inguinal lymph nodes

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

184,021 papers

Retroperitoneal 'uterus-like mass' of cervical origin.BMJ case reports · 2024Karim N, Pantilie P, Kamran WDOI: 10.1136/bcr-2023-258757
Advanced robotic surgery to the rescue: cerclage placement in the bicornuate uterus with cervical insufficiency.Fertility and sterility · 2024Yazdani A, Frisch EH, Richards EGDOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.02.047
Uterus didelphys: the first case report on molecular profiling of endometrial tissue from both uterine cavities.Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E · 2025Sola-Leyva A, Romero B, Canha-Gouveia A et al.DOI: 10.1186/s12958-024-01330-7
Quantitative ultrasound measurement of uterine contractility in septate uterus vs. normal uteri: a multicenter prospective study.Fertility and sterility · 2025Zizolfi B, Rees CO, Musone M et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2025.05.159
Ancient Conceptions of the Human Uterus: Italic Votives and Animal Wombs.Journal of the history of medicine and allied sciences · 2024Bubb CDOI: 10.1093/jhmas/jrad038
Dysmenorrhea.Clinical obstetrics and gynecology · 1969Santamarina BADOI: 10.1097/00003081-196909000-00011
Uterus cryopreservation in the sheep: one step closer to uterus transplantation.In vivo (Athens, Greece) · 2010Dittrich R, Maltaris T, Mueller A et al.
Determination of Maximum Tolerable Cold Ischemia Time in a Mouse Model of Cervical Heterotopic Uterus Transplantation.Transplantation · 2024Luo X, Yu S, Liu B et al.DOI: 10.1097/TP.0000000000004979

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Wikidata facts

Image: Figure 28 02 01.JPG

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Commons category: Uterus
NCI Thesaurus ID: C12405

Sources (8)

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~17 min read

Article

17 sections

Contents

Structure
Layers
Support
Axis
Position
Blood, lymph, and nerve supply
Development
Function
Clinical significance
Malformations
Surgery
Transplants
Other animals
Additional images
See also
References
External links

In humans, the lower end of the uterus is a narrow part known as the isthmus that connects to the cervix, the anterior gateway leading to the vagina. The upper end, the body of the uterus, is connected to the fallopian tubes at the uterine horns; the rounded part, the fundus, is above the openings to the fallopian tubes. The connection of the uterine cavity with a fallopian tube is called the uterotubal junction. The fertilized egg is carried to the uterus along the fallopian tube. It will have divided on its journey to form a blastocyst that will implant itself into the lining of the uterus – the endometrium, where it will receive nutrients and develop into the embryo proper, and later fetus, for the duration of the pregnancy.