uterus

[ yoo-ter-uhs ]

noun

, Anatomy, Zoology.

, plural u·ter·i [yoo, -t, uh, -rahy], u·ter·us·es.

1. the enlarged, muscular, expandable portion of the oviduct in which the fertilized ovum implants and develops or rests during prenatal development; the womb of certain mammals.

uterus

/ ˈjuːtərəs /

noun

1. anatomy a hollow muscular organ lying within the pelvic cavity of female mammals. It houses the developing fetus and by contractions aids in its expulsion at parturition Nontechnical namewomb
2. the corresponding organ in other animals

uterus

/ yo̅o̅′tər-əs /

, Plural uteri yo̅o̅′tə-rī′

1. The hollow, muscular organ of female mammals in which the embryo develops. In most mammals the uterus is divided into two saclike parts, whereas in primates it is a single structure. It lies between the bladder and rectum and is attached to the vagina and the fallopian tubes. During the menstrual cycle (estrus), the lining of the uterus (endometrium) undergoes changes that permit the implantation of a fertilized egg.
2. Also called womb
3. See more at menstrual cycle

uterus

1. A pear-shaped organ in the female reproductive system where the embryo or fetus develops until birth. The strong muscles of the uterus help push the baby out of the mother's body.

Word History and Origins

Origin of uterus¹

1605–15; < Latin: the womb, matrix; akin to Greek hystéra womb, Sanskrit udara belly

Word History and Origins

Origin of uterus¹

C17: from Latin; compare Greek hustera womb, hoderos belly, Sanskrit udara belly

Example Sentences

Most famously, the belief in the “floating uterus” was used to keep women out of the marathon for decades.

From FiveThirtyEight

Babies leave the uterus without a bacterial colony in their guts.

From Popular-Science

A rejuvenation period that takes place after an embryo has attached to the uterus sets the growing embryo at its youngest biological age, dubbed “ground zero,” researchers report June 25 in Science Advances.

From Science News

The struggle included some wacky experiments, including loading sperm into a tiny chamber and inserting it in a volunteer’s uterus to “prime” the sperm for action.

From Science News

An average pregnancy lasts approximately 40 weeks, and viability, the point at which a fetus can survive outside the uterus, generally falls between 24 and 26 weeks.

From Washington Post

Udall had stressed the line of attack so frequently that he was dubbed “Mark Uterus,” and it clearly backfired.

From The Daily Beast

It is placed immediately in front, on the pubic bone, the Uterus lying nearly on the top of it.

From Project Gutenberg

The body of the Uterus is formed of a very dense, gray colored, muscular substance, possessing astonishing contractile power.

From Project Gutenberg

A thorough and practical treatise on the Malpositions of the Uterus and adjacent Organs.

From Project Gutenberg

Ein Fall von Myoma im rudimentaren Uterus bicornis unicollis.

From Project Gutenberg

Carcinomatous Uterus removed eighteen and a half years subsequent to Double Ovariotomy.

From Project Gutenberg