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The cervix

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Prostaglandins and their Inhibitors in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Abstract

The normal non-pregnant human cervix has a length of about 3 cm, a diameter of 2–3 cm and in general a thickness of 1 cm. According to its position above or below the reflection of the vaginal epithelium, the cervix can be divided into supravaginal and vaginal portions. Although movable, the cervix and uterus are stabilized by several ligaments. The most important of these is the transverse cervical ligament which encircles the cervix like a collar just above the reflection of the vaginal mucosa. This ligament is often referred to as the cardinal ligament based on its function and Mackinrodt’s ligament in eponymic terminology.

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Authors
  1. U. Ulmsten
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Hospital, S-104, 01 Stockholm, Sweden

    Marc Bygdeman MD

  2. Chapel Hill Fertility Services, 109 Conner Drive, Suite 2104, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA

    Gary S. Berger MD, MSPH

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Medical School, 333 E. Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Louis G. Keith MD

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© 1986 MTP Press Limited

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Ulmsten, U. (1986). The cervix. In: Bygdeman, M., Berger, G.S., Keith, L.G. (eds) Prostaglandins and their Inhibitors in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-6734-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-6734-5_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-011-6736-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-6734-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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