Histologic and chemical studies of the smooth muscle in the human cervix and uterus

Comparison of transvaginal sonography in recumbent and standing maternal positions to predict spontaneous preterm birth in singleton and twin pregnancies

“…The cervix consists predominantly of fibrous connective tissue with 80% of the total protein content formed by collagen and 10-15% being smooth muscle fibers 2 . Cervical ripening is characterized by a high collagen solubility and collagenolytic activity, a decrease in total collagen content and an influx of inflammatory cells with increasing levels of cytokines and prostaglandins 3 .…”

Three‐dimensional fiber architecture of the nonpregnant human uterus determined ex vivo using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging

“…Boundaries between these layers are not precisely defined. Quantity and quality of connective tissue vary throughout the corpus and cervix uteri (Rorie and Newton, 1967;Dubrausz et al, 1971;Leppert et al, 1986;Aspden, 1988;Leppert and Yu, 1991;Ludmir and Sehdev, 2000;Metaxa-Mariatou et al, 2002). The quantity of smooth muscle fibers diminishes from about 28% in the corpus to about 8% in the cervix (Schwalm and Dubrauszky, 1966).…”

“…The human cervix uteri is composed predominantly of collagen and ground substance and contains relatively few smooth muscle cells (Danforth, 1947;Schwalm and Dubrauszky, 1966;Rorie and Newton, 1967;Ludmir and Sehdev, 2000). The muscle fiber architecture of the cervix uteri likewise consists of bundles running in an approximately circular fashion (Goerttler, 1929;Wetzstein, 1965), two fiber systems running at acute angles, and the continuation of the fibers of the parametrium (Lierse, 1960).…”

Uterine cervix dilatation based on new insights of embryology - method description

“…Possible cervical damage is due to the structure of the cervix. While the body of the uterus consists to up to 68,8% of muscle tissue, the lower third of the cervix 6.4% of muscle tissue [6], and the rest is compound of fibrous tissue which becomes expansible only at the onset of delivery due to the hormonal changes. Therefore, a quick dilatation might become traumatic and produce incompetence which affects future pregnancies.…”