Synonym
Cervix
Cervix definition
The cervix is the area between the cervix (portio) and the actual uterus. It extends into the vagina and serves as a connecting passage. During fertilization, sperm pass through the cervix and reach the actual uterus.
At birth, the child leaves the uterus through the cervix. During the monthly menstrual bleeding, the bled uterine lining also enters the vagina through the cervix. Location of the cervix in the body
- Uterus
- Sheath
- Cervix
- Tube/fallopian tube
- Ovary/Evary
The cervix is limited towards the vagina by the outer cervix (Portio vaginalis uteri) and is closed in the non-pregnant woman.
Towards the uterus, the cervix is closed by the inner cervix (ostium uteri internum). The outer cervix is an oval opening and a dimple in the woman who has not yet given birth. The length between the outer and inner cervix is individual and varies from woman to woman.
On average, however, the length is about 5 cm, depending on the age of the woman and the anatomy. Histologically, the cervix consists of so-called squamous epithelium and cylindrical epithelium. More precisely, the outer cervix consists of squamous epithelium and the actual cervix of cylindrical epithelium.
However, it can also happen that squamous epithelium was injected from the outside into the cervix during development. The boundary between the two microscopic cell types is not rigid and shifts over time towards the cervix. Influencing factors are not only the age of the woman but also the number of pregnancies. The older a woman is and the more children she has born, the higher the squamous epithelium reaches into the cervix and the further the cylindrical epithelium is displaced.
Function of the cervix
During fertilization, the sperm is released into the woman’s vagina and approaches the outer cervix. The cervix moves forward and receives the sperm given by the man. Via the cervix, the sperm enter the uterus and nestle.
During pregnancy, as the child grows, the woman’s uterus also enlarges. As a result, the cervix expands and becomes shorter in length. The original length of the cervical canal of approx.
5 cm decreases in the course of time up to 2 cm or 1 cm and is no longer measurable shortly before the birth of the child. The length of the cervix is an indicator of pregnancy and its proper course and is regularly measured by the gynaecologist during the pregnancy examination. Before the birth, the length should be approx.
2.5 cm. If it is already shorter, there is a risk of premature birth or miscarriage. A mucous secretion is released into the vagina via the cervix.
The consistency of the secretion is characteristic for the current stage of the menstrual cycle. On infertile days it is viscous, on the days just before ovulation the mucus becomes liquid and permeable. To a certain extent, the examination also represents a contraceptive method, albeit an unsafe one. Dreaded diseases of the uterus and cervix are cervical cancer and dysplasia of the cervical epithelium, which is a precursor of cervical cancer. Inflammation and increased bleeding of the cervix can also lead to sometimes severe symptoms.
