The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive secondary sex organ of the reproductive system in humans and most other mammals. Things occurring in the uterus are described with the term in utero. In the human, the lower end of the uterus, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the upper end, the fundus, is connected to the fallopian tubes. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation. In the human embryo, the uterus develops from the paramesonephric ducts which fuse into the single organ known as a simplex uterus. The uterus has different forms in many other animals and in some it exists as two separate uteri known as a duplex uterus.
A uterine malformation is a type of female genital malformation resulting from an abnormal development of the Müllerian duct(s) during embryogenesis. Symptoms range from amenorrhea, infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and pain, to normal functioning depending on the nature of the defect.
The recto-uterine pouch, also known by various other names, is the extension of the peritoneal cavity between the rectum and the posterior wall of the uterus in the female human body.
The uterine artery is an artery that supplies blood to the uterus in females.
The renal plexus is formed by filaments from the celiac ganglia and plexus, aorticorenal ganglia, lower thoracic splanchnic nerves and first lumbar splanchnic nerve and aortic plexus.
The ovarian artery is an artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the ovary in females. It arises from the abdominal aorta below the renal artery. It can be found in the suspensory ligament of the ovary, anterior to the ovarian vein and ureter.
The broad ligament of the uterus is the wide fold of peritoneum that connects the sides of the uterus to the walls and floor of the pelvis.
The pelvic cavity is a body cavity that is bounded by the bones of the pelvis. Its oblique roof is the pelvic inlet. Its lower boundary is the pelvic floor.
The uterine cavity is the inside of the uterus.
The ovarian vein, the female gonadal vein, carries deoxygenated blood from its corresponding ovary to inferior vena cava or one of its tributaries. It is the female equivalent of the testicular vein, and is the venous counterpart of the ovarian artery. It can be found in the suspensory ligament of the ovary.
The Uterovaginal plexus is a division of the inferior hypogastric plexus. In older texts, it is referred to as two structures, the "vaginal plexus" and "uterine plexus".
The ovarian ligament is a fibrous ligament that connects the ovary to the lateral surface of the uterus.
The pampiniform plexus is a venous plexus – a network of many small veins found in the human male spermatic cord, and the suspensory ligament of the ovary. In the male, it is formed by the union of multiple testicular veins from the back of the testis and tributaries from the epididymis.
In human female anatomy, the vesico-uterine pouch, also known by various names, is a fold of peritoneum over the uterus and the urinary bladder. Like the recto-uterine pouch, it is a female pelvic recess. However, it is a shallower pouch close to the anterior fornix of the vagina.
The vaginal venous plexuses are placed at the sides of the vagina; they communicate with the uterine venous plexuses, vesical venous plexus, and rectal venous plexuses, and are drained by the vaginal veins, one on either side, into the hypogastric veins.
A venous plexus is a congregation of multiple veins.
The cardinal ligament is a major ligament of the uterus. It is located at the base of the broad ligament of the uterus. There are a pair of cardinal ligaments in the female human body.
The arcuate vessels of the uterus are a component of the blood supply of the uterus. They are arteries and veins that branch from the uterine arteries and veins, respectively, with additional anastomoses from the ovarian arteries and veins, and penetrate and assume a circumferential course in the myometrium.
Vesical refers to the urinary bladder and its relevant and nearby structures and functions, including:
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:
