Word parts
What it means
The neck of the uterus. During pregnancy it stays closed and firm; in labor it thins out (effacement) and opens (dilation) to 10 cm so the baby can pass. Pap tests and HPV tests sample cells from it to screen for cervical cancer. The word "cervical" can also mean related to the neck, as in cervical vertebrae.
At a glance
| Spanish | cuello uterino, cérvix |
|---|---|
| Also written | cervices |
Related terms
human papillomavirus
A common group of viruses spread by close skin-to-skin contact, most often during sex.
uterus
The hollow, muscular organ in the female pelvis where a fetus grows during pregnancy; the womb.
vagina
The muscular tube that leads from the cervix of the uterus to the outside of the body; the birth canal.
dilation
The widening or opening up of a body part, such as the cervix during labor, the pupils or a blood vessel.