UTERUS

or Woms, is a pear shaped, muscular, hollow organ, about 3 in. long, 2 in. broad at its widest part, and nearly 1 in. thick, in its non-pregnant condition. It is usually considered in three parts: the fundus, or upper rounded part, above the entrance on each side of the Fallopian tubes; the body, which gradually diminishes in breadth and is marked off by a slight constriction from the cervix, which is narrower and more cylindrical than the body, with a knoblike, rounded lower extremity, in which is a minute opening, termed the os externum of the uterus. The normal position of the uterus is that of antefiexion—.e., it is bent forward upon itself so that the body and cervix meet at an acute angle. From each side of the organ the broad ligaments, formed of a double layer of peritoneum, go out to the wall of the pelvis; to them are attached the ovaries, and they contain several important structures, including the Fallopian tubes and the muscular round lig a men is, which have an important share in holding the uterus in position. The vagina is the pa age, lined with mucous membrane, which leads from the uterus to the exterior.- For diseases of uterus, see GyNaCOLOGY.