Difference between revisions of "Cervical Softening - Anatomy & Physiology"
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|linktext =Reproductive System | |linktext =Reproductive System | ||
|maplink = Reproductive System (Content Map) - Anatomy & Physiology | |maplink = Reproductive System (Content Map) - Anatomy & Physiology | ||
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|sublink1=Parturition - Normal Parturition - Anatomy & Physiology | |sublink1=Parturition - Normal Parturition - Anatomy & Physiology | ||
|subtext1=NORMAL PARTURITION | |subtext1=NORMAL PARTURITION | ||
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** Inducing collagen breakdown | ** Inducing collagen breakdown | ||
** Altering GAG/Proteogylcan composition | ** Altering GAG/Proteogylcan composition | ||
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| + | [[Category:Reproductive System]] | ||
Revision as of 16:49, 30 August 2010
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This article is still under construction. |
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The cervix retains the foetus in the uterus. Connective tissue resists stretch, allowing distension of the uterine body whilst maintaining the cervix in a closed state. For the foetus to move out of the uterus, the cervix must soften or 'ripen'.
The cervix is composed of:
- Collagen fibre bundles: helical strands of amino acids bound together to form fibrils
- Proteoglycan Matrix: protein core with Glycosaminoglycan branches (GAGs). GAGs determine the degree of collagen fibre aggregation. An increased GAG content reduces collagen aggregation and vice versa.
Cervical softening involves two changes in the intracellular matrix:
- Reduction of collagen fibres
- Increase in GAGs to decrease aggregation of the remaining collagen fibres.
The cervix produces:
- Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)
- Prostacyclin (PGI2)
- Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α)
Prostaglandins are thought to cause cervical softening, production increases at term and during parturition.
- Prostaglandins may induce cervical softening by:
- Inducing collagen breakdown
- Altering GAG/Proteogylcan composition