File:Human fetal uterus myometrium.jpg

Human Fetal Uterus Myometrium

• Modified original drawing from Werth and Grusdew showing the architecture of the subendometrial myometrium (archimyometrium) in a human fetal uterus.
• The specific orientation of the circular fibers of the archimyometrium results from the fusion of the two paramesonephric ducts forming a fundo-cornual raphe in the midline (dashed rectangle).
• The peristaltic pump of the uterus, which is continuously active during the menstrual cycle, is driven by coordinated contractions of these muscular fibers.
• Directed sperm transport into the dominant tube is made possible by differential activation of these fibers.
• The fundo-cornual raphe constitutes a region of increased mechanical strain and tissue injury followed by local estrogen production.
• By the time muscular distensions at the fundo-cornual raphe result in the formation of gaps that result in endometrial proliferation into these dehiscences

(text from figure legend)

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Reference

Original figure - Werth R, Grusdew W (1898) Untersuchungen über die Entwicklung und Morphologie der menschlichen Uterusmuskulatur. Arch Gynäkol 55:325–409.

<pubmed>19644696</pubmed>| PMC2730449

Copyright © The Author(s) 2009

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