Here it refers to the neck of the uterus
Cervix. The word cervix means neck in Latin. Here it refers to the neck of the uterus. Surrounding the cervical canal, the cervix forms the narrow lower end of the uterus. It can be easily examined by the physician, since about half the cervix projects into the vagina.
Like the rest of the uterus, the cervix is firm and muscular. Medical students are sometimes taught that before the first pregnancy the cervix feels like the tip of the nose, and after childbirth it feels like the point of the chin.
The cervical os is the opening of the cervix into the vagina. This passageway is as narrow as the lead in a pencil and is framed by strong muscles. Only under strong pressure, as in childbirth, does the fibroelastic tissue of the cervix dilate to increase the size of the opening. The normally tight passage helps to keep the interior of the uterus virtually germfree, especially since a constant slight current of cleansing moisture flows outward.
This moisture, along with a light scraping of cervical cells, is examined for cancer cells in the Papanicolaou, or Pap, smear. It is recommended that women have a Pap smear about once each year, as the cervix is the site of most of the cancer of the female organs. It takes two to six days to get a final report on the Pap smear. When cervical cancer is found early, more than 90 percent is curable with correct treatment.
Posted in Understanding the Basics
To Ed Wheat Sr. and Gladys Gibson Wheat, whose commitment, devotion, warmth, generosity, and integrity stood for fifty years as a beautiful picture of genuine agape love.