bicornate

Bicornate is an adjective meaning having two horns or horn-like projections. The term derives from the Latin bi- meaning two and cornu meaning horn, and it is used across biological disciplines to describe structures with a two-horned form. In medical and anatomical contexts, the word most often appears in reference to the uterus, though it can describe other two-horned structures in principle.

In human anatomy, bicornate (also called bicornate uterus or uterus bicornis) refers to a congenital uterine anomaly in which the uterus has two distinct horn-like regions. This condition results from incomplete fusion of the Müllerian ducts during embryonic development, producing a uterus with a fundal indentation and two uterine cavities that share a common cervix, a single cervix, or two cervices depending on the degree of fusion. Many individuals with a bicornate uterus experience no symptoms, but some may face complications during pregnancy, such as miscarriage, preterm birth, or malpresentation. Diagnosis is typically made using imaging methods such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, often prompted by fertility concerns or obstetric history. Management is individualized and can range from expectant monitoring to surgical options in selected cases, such as procedures aimed at improving uterine shape for pregnancy outcomes.

Outside of anatomy, bicornate is used to describe other two-horned forms in biology, though such usage is less common and tends to be context-specific. The term is sometimes encountered as a variant spelling of bicornuate in scholarly writing and medical references, with similar meaning and usage.

See also: bicornuate, Müllerian duct development, uterine anomalies.