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Cancer of the Uterus

  • Posted: 10/25/2010

The Uterus

The uterus is part of a woman’s reproductive system. It’s a hollow organ in the pelvis.

The uterus has three parts:

  • Top: The top (fundus) of your uterus is shaped like a dome. From the top of your uterus, the fallopian tubes extend to the ovaries.
  • Middle: The middle part of your uterus is the body (corpus). This is where a baby grows.
  • Bottom: The narrow, lower part of your uterus is the cervix. The cervix is a passageway to the vagina.

The wall of the uterus has two layers of tissue:

  • Inner layer: The inner layer (lining) of the uterus is the endometrium. In women of childbearing age, the lining grows and thickens each month to prepare for pregnancy. If a woman does not become pregnant, the thick, bloody lining flows out of the body. This flow is a menstrual period.
  • Outer layer: The outer layer of muscle tissue is the myometrium.
This picture shows the uterus and nearby tissues.
This picture shows the uterus and nearby tissues.


Glossary Terms

corpus (KOR-pus)
The body of the uterus.
endometrium (en-doh-MEE-tree-um)
The layer of tissue that lines the uterus.
fallopian tube (fuh-LOH-pee-in...)
A slender tube through which eggs pass from an ovary to the uterus. In the female reproductive tract, there is one ovary and one fallopian tube on each side of the uterus.
fundus (FUN-dus)
The larger part of a hollow organ that is farthest away from the organ's opening. The bladder, gallbladder, stomach, uterus, eye, and cavity of the middle ear all have a fundus.
menstrual period (MEN-stroo-ul PEER-ee-ud)
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.
myometrium (my-oh-MEE-tree-um)
The muscular outer layer of the uterus.
organ (OR-gun)
A part of the body that performs a specific function. For example, the heart is an organ.
ovary (OH-vuh-ree)
One of a pair of female reproductive glands in which the ova, or eggs, are formed. The ovaries are located in the pelvis, one on each side of the uterus.
pelvis (PEL-vus)
The lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones.
reproductive system (REE-proh-DUK-tiv SIS-tem)
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.
tissue (TIH-shoo)
A group or layer of cells that work together to perform a specific function.
vagina (vuh-JY-nuh)
The muscular canal that goes from the uterus to the outside of the body. During birth, the baby passes through the vagina. Also called birth canal.