The cervix
Cervix of uterus · cervix uteri
The narrow lower neck of the womb, which opens into the vagina.
What it does
The cervix is the bottom part of the womb, about three centimetres long. A narrow channel runs through it, joining the inside of the womb to the vagina. Its glands make mucus that changes through the monthly cycle: thick and sticky most of the time, thinner and stretchy around the time an egg is released, which helps sperm get through.
Surprising fact
For most of life the opening is only a few millimetres wide. During labour it widens to about ten centimetres, wide enough for a baby's head.
Why it matters
Cervical screening checks cells from the cervix, and it is a big reason cervical cancer has become much rarer. The vagina, which the cervix opens into, is in the 3D model too.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.