cervix

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noun cer·vix \ ˈsər-viks \

Definition of cervix

plural cervices play \ˈsər-və-ˌsēz, (ˌ)sər-ˈvī-(ˌ)sēz\ or cervixes

1 :neck; especially :the back part of the neck

2 :a constricted portion of an organ or part; especially :the narrow outer end of the uterus

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The report also looked at rates of vaccination against the human papillomavirus, which can cause cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis and anus.

— lynne terry, OregonLive.com, "CDC reports low vaccination rate for Oregon," 24 Aug. 2017
The ectocervix, or lower portion of the cervix, is where most tissue is examined for abnormal cells.

— s. nicole lane, SELF, "So You Need a Cervical Biopsy—Here's What That Actually Means," 17 Aug. 2017
Schwab has two uteruses and two cervixes, with one functioning ovary on the right side; her vagina is separated into two canals by a septum.

— annamarie houlis, Woman's Day, "What It's Like to Give Birth When You Have Two Vaginas," 14 July 2017
Sloane York, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, says that the source of the blood is typically the cervix.

— emma sarran webster, Allure, "What You Need to Know About Bleeding After Sex," 7 July 2017
A woman's cervix is dilated during D&Es, and physicians remove the fetus and tissue with surgical instruments and suction.

— mary kilpatrick, cleveland.com, "Mike Pence in Cleveland, talks healthcare: Ohio Politics Roundup," 29 June 2017
But technically, the term describes only the narrow canal that runs inside your body from the vulva (the visible area that includes the inner and outer labia, clitoris, and perineum) to the cervix (the lower portion of the uterus). 2.

— zoe ruderman, Cosmopolitan, "22 Vital Facts You Need to Know About Your Vagina," 19 June 2017
Basically, tenting is thought to help the movement of sperm up into the cervix for conception.

— zoe ruderman, Cosmopolitan, "22 Vital Facts You Need to Know About Your Vagina," 19 June 2017
Hormones soften the ligaments between the mother’s bones in the pelvis and thin the opening of her cervix.

— tanya ward goodman, Orange County Register, "Past your due date? Some ideas to get that baby moving.," 5 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cervix.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cervix

Latin cervic-, cervix

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First Known Use: 15th century

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CERVIX Defined for English Language Learners

cervix

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noun

Definition of cervix for English Language Learners

medical : the narrow end at the opening of a woman's uterus

Medical Dictionary

cervix

play

noun cer·vix \ ˈsər-viks \

medical Definition of cervix

plural cervices play \-və-ˌsēz, ˌsər-ˈvī-(ˌ)sēz\ or cervixes

1 :neck 1a; especially :the back part of the neck

2 :a constricted portion of an organ or part: as

a :the narrow lower or outer end of the uterus

b :the constricted cementoenamel junction on a tooth

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cervix

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