The uterus (womb) is a hollow, thick-walled muscular organ shaped like an upside-down pear, about 7-8 cm long in a non-pregnant adult. It sits in the middle of the pelvis between the bladder and the rectum, usually tipped forward over the bladder. Its lining builds up and sheds each month, and during pregnancy it grows enormously to hold the developing baby.
| Location | In the lesser pelvis between the bladder in front and the rectum behind, usually anteverted and anteflexed |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Uterovaginal plexus (from the inferior hypogastric plexus); Sympathetic fibres T10-L1 (pain from the uterine body); Pelvic splanchnic nerves S2-S4 (parasympathetic, pain from the cervix) |
| Blood Supply | Uterine artery; Ovarian artery (anastomosing branches) |
| Venous drainage |
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| Lymphatic drainage |
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Receives and nourishes the embryo, houses the growing fetus and contracts to deliver it at birth; sheds its lining during menstruation when no pregnancy occurs.
Fibroids, benign muscle growths of the uterus, are very common and can cause heavy periods and pressure symptoms. Endometrial cancer typically shows up as bleeding after menopause, which should always be investigated. Its supports, including the cardinal and uterosacral ligaments and the pelvic floor, can weaken after childbirth, allowing the uterus to drop into the vagina (prolapse).
Benign smooth muscle tumours causing heavy periods, pelvic pressure, pain and sometimes fertility problems.
Descent of the uterus into the vagina from weakened ligaments and pelvic floor, often after childbirth.
Cancer of the uterine lining, most common after menopause and usually presenting with abnormal bleeding.
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