390 THE ABDOMEN AND PELVIS 



The Uterus is about three inches long and two inches 

 broad, and in shape resembles a pear, flattened antero-posteriorly. 

 At the upper ends of its lateral borders it receives the uterine 

 tubes, and the part of the organ which lies above this level is 

 termed thefundus. This part of the uterus is normally directed 

 forwards, and is completely covered by the peritoneum, which 

 is firmly adherent to it. 



The body of the uterus lies below the fundus, and is separated 

 from the cervix by a slight constriction, termed the isthmus. 

 It is completely covered by peritoneum, which separates it, 

 anteriorly, from the superior surface of the bladder, and 

 posteiiorly, from the recto-uterine fossa. The body of the 

 uterus is the common site for fibroids, which may grow in the 

 subserous, muscular, or submucous coats. 



The Cervix Uteri consists of a supra-vaginal and a vaginal 

 portion. The supra-vaginal portion is covered by peritoneum 

 on its posterior surface only, and this covering is very loosely 

 attached to the subjacent muscular coat. Anteriorly, the 

 supra-vaginal portion of the cervix is related to the bladder, 

 from which it is separated by some cellular tissue (p. 395). 



The vaginal portion of the cervix projects downwards and 

 backwards into the antero-superior part of the vagina, and 

 receives a covering of squamous epithelium similar to that 

 which lines the vagina. 



The cervix is traversed by the cervical canal, which 

 communicates with the~cavity of the uterus, above, through 

 the internal orifice and with the vagina, below, through the 

 external orifice. In nulliparse the external orifice of the uterus 

 is a circular depression, and, owing to the line of axis of the 

 cervix, is directed against the posterior vaginal wall. In 

 multipart the orifice becomes an irregularly transverse slit, 

 with somewhat everted anterior and posterior lips. The cervical 

 canal readily admits a sound 4 mm. in diameter. Should it 

 fail to do so, the condition of stenosis is present. Stenosis of 

 the cervix obstructs the menstrual flow, and gives rise to 

 dysmenorrhcea, which is most marked at the commencement 

 of the period. 



Position of the Uterus. The long axis of the uterus is 

 normally directed downwards and backwards, and this 

 arrangement -is described as anteversion of the organ. But in 

 addition to being anteverted, the normal uterus is bent forwards 

 on itself at the junction of the body with the cervix, and this 



