external cervical os
Opening of uterine cervix into the vagina. [ http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6601-2165 ]
Synonyms: ostium uteri, external os of uterus
Term info
- UMLS:C1512165 (ncithesaurus:Ectocervical_Os)
- NCIT:C32491
- Wikipedia:External_orifice_of_the_uterus
- SCTID:362255005
- FMA:76836
The external orifice of the uterus (or ostium of uterus, or external os) is a small, depressed, somewhat circular aperture on the rounded extremity of the vaginal portion of the cervix. Through this aperture, the cervical cavity communicates with that of the vagina. The external orifice is bounded by two lips, an anterior and a posterior. The anterior is shorter and thicker, though it projects lower than the posterior because of the slope of the cervix. Normally, both lips are in contact with the posterior vaginal wall. Prior to pregnancy, the external orifice has a rounded shape when viewed through the vaginal canal (as through a speculum). Following parturition, the orifice takes on an appearance more like a transverse slit or is 'H-shaped'[Wikipedia:External_orifice_of_the_uterus].
ostium of uterus, external os
uberon
UBERON:0013760
External cervical os, external cervical os
Term relations
- cervical os
- continuous with some vagina
- connects some vagina
- connects some uterine cervix
- part of some ectocervix