MICROANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Sometimes called the “neck of the uterus, ‘’ your cervix plays an important role in allowing fluids to pass between your uterus and vagina. It enables a baby to leave your uterus so that it can travel through your vagina (birth canal) during childbirth.

Detailed explanation-2: -The contractions also push your baby down against the cervix. That makes your cervix open or dilate. Effacement and dilation are the work of the first stage of labor. When the cervix is fully open so that your baby can pass through, contractions push your baby down your vagina and into the world.

Detailed explanation-3: -The cervical os is the opening in the cervix at each end of the endocervical canal. The external os is near the vagina, and the internal os is near the uterus.

Detailed explanation-4: -Key Points. The first stage of labor begins when the effaced (thinned) cervix is 3 cm dilated. During effacement, the cervix is pulled upward during contractions. Full dilation occurs when the cervix is wide enough to allow passage of the baby’s head, about 10 cm for a full-term infant.