Museo Galileo
italiano
Virtual Museum
In-depth
Uterus

Organ of the female genital system in which the embryo develops to maturity. During pregnancy, the uterus increases to 30-40 times normal size. The uterus is a muscular bag whose walls contain two main bands of involuntary muscles, one circling the uterus, the other lying longitudinally. When the longitudinal muscle contracts, the uterus shortens and the fetus is driven through the dilated cervix.