The smooth muscle coat of the uterus, which forms the main mass of the organ and surrounds and supports the endometrium. [ http://www.informatics.jax.org/accession/brs MP:0008256 MESH:A02.633.570.500 ]
Synonyms: tunica muscularis (myometrium)
Term information
- MESH:D009215
- FMA:17743
- EFO:0001970
- NCIT:C12314
- CALOHA:TS-0652
- GAID:171
- BTO:0000907
- SCTID:279879004
- VHOG:0001281
- EV:0100116
- Wikipedia:Myometrium
- MA:0000391
- EMAPA:29923
- UMLS:C0027088 (ncithesaurus:Myometrium)
uberon_slim, efo_slim, pheno_slim
The myometrium stretches (the smooth muscle cells expand in both size and number) during pregnancy to allow for the harboring of the pregnancy, and contracts in a coordinated fashion during the process of labor. After delivery the myometrium contracts to expel the placenta and reduce blood loss.
In all mammals, the uterus develops as a specialization of the paramesonephric or Müllerian ducts, which gives rise to the infundibula, oviducts, uterus, cervix, and anterior vagina. Morphogenetic events common to development of all uteri include: 1) differentiation and growth of the myometrium, 2) differentiation and morphogenesis of the endometrial glands, and 3) organization and stratification of endometrial stroma. Uterine development is initiated in the fetus, but is only completed postnatally with differentiation and development of the endometrial glands.[well established][VHOG]
Term relations
- layer of smooth muscle tissue
- reproductive structure
- part of some uterine wall
- surrounds some endometrium
- contributes to morphology of some uterus
- surrounded by some serosa of uterus