The cervix is part of a woman's reproductive system. It's in the pelvis. The cervix is the lower, narrow part of the uterus (womb).

The cervix is a passageway:

• The cervix connects the uterus to the vagina. During a menstrual period, blood flows from the uterus through the cervix into the vagina. The vagina leads to the outside of the body.
  
  
• The cervix makes mucus. During sex, mucus helps sperm move from the vagina through the cervix into the uterus.
  
  
• During pregnancy, the cervix is tightly closed to help keep the baby inside the uterus. During childbirth, the cervix opens to allow the baby to pass through the vagina.

This picture shows the cervix and nearby organs.

Glossary Terms

The periodic discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus. From puberty until menopause, menstruation occurs about every 28 days, but does not occur during pregnancy.

A thick, slippery fluid made by the membranes that line certain organs of the body, including the nose, mouth, throat, and vagina.

The lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones.

The organs involved in producing offspring. In women, this system includes the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the uterus, the cervix, and the vagina. In men, it includes the prostate, the testes, and the penis.

The male reproductive cell, formed in the testicle. A sperm unites with an egg to form an embryo.

The small, hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman's pelvis. This is the organ in which a fetus develops. Also called womb.

The muscular canal extending from the uterus to the exterior of the body. Also called birth canal.