uterus

uter·us

noun \ˈyü-tə-rəs, ˈyü-trəs\

plural uter·us·es or uteri \ˈyü-tə-ˌrī\

Definition of UTERUS

1

: a muscular organ of the female mammal for containing and usually for nourishing the young during development prior to birth —called also womb

2

: a structure in some lower animals analogous to the uterus in which eggs or young develop

Origin of UTERUS

Middle English, from Latin, belly, womb; probably akin to Greek hoderos belly, Sanskrit udara

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

uter·us

noun \ˈyüt-ə-rəs\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; uteri \-ˌrī\ (audio pronunciation)also ; uter·us·es

Medical Definition of UTERUS

: an organ in female mammals for containing and usually for nourishing the young during development prior to birth that consists of a greatly modified and enlarged section of an oviduct (as in rodents and marsupials) or of the two oviducts united (as in the higher primates including humans), that has thick walls consisting of an outer serous layer, a very thick middle layer of smooth muscle, and an inner mucous layer containing numerous glands, and that during pregnancy undergoes great increase in size and change in the condition of its walls—called also womb; see cervix 2a, corpus uteri, endometrium, fundus c, myometrium, perimetrium

Illustration of UTERUS

uterus

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Inverted-pear-shaped organ of the female reproductive system, in which the embryo and fetus develop during pregnancy. Lying over and behind the bladder, it is 2.5–3 in. (6–8 cm) long and about 2.5 in. (6 cm) across at the top, where the fallopian tubes enter it; at the other end, the cervix extends down into the vagina. The uterine lining (endometrium), a moist mucous membrane, changes in thickness during the menstrual cycle (see menstruation), being thickest at ovulation in readiness for a fertilized egg. The uterine wall, about 1 in. (2.5 cm) thick, expands and becomes thinner as a fetus develops inside. The cervix expands to about 4 in. (10 cm) for delivery. Disorders of the uterus include infections, benign and malignant tumours, prolapse, endometriosis, and fibroids (leiomyomas; see muscle tumour).

Variants of UTERUS

uterus or womb