uteruksen

Uteruksen is a term used in some contexts to refer to the uterus, the hollow muscular organ of the female reproductive system in which embryonic and fetal development occurs during pregnancy. In medical Finnish usage, the form uteruksen may appear as the genitive of a borrowed Latin word for the organ, appearing in phrases such as uteruksen limakalvo (the mucous membrane of the uterus).

Anatomy and structure

The uterus is located in the pelvic cavity between the bladder and the rectum. In adults it is typically about 7 to 10 centimeters long and has three main parts: the fundus (top), the body (central region), and the cervix (the portion opening into the vagina). The uterine wall comprises three layers: the endometrium, a inner mucosal lining that thickens during the cycle and is shed during menstruation; the myometrium, a thick middle layer of smooth muscle that generates contractions; and the perimetrium, a thin outer serous layer. Blood supply mainly comes from the uterine arteries, with venous drainage through a network of uterine veins; innervation is autonomic, and lymphatic drainage follows the pelvic vessels.

Function and physiology

The uterus supports menstruation, implantation, and gestation. The endometrium undergoes cyclic changes under ovarian hormones—estrogen and progesterone—that prepare it for possible implantation. If fertilization occurs, the embryo implants into the endometrium and pregnancy proceeds with placental support. During labor, coordinated uterine contractions facilitate childbirth.

Clinical relevance

Common conditions include fibroids (leiomyomas) within the myometrium, adenomyosis (endometrial tissue within the myometrium), and endometrial polyps. Diagnostic tools include ultrasound, MRI, and hysteroscopy, while treatment depends on the condition and may range from observation to medical therapy or surgical intervention.