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The uterus comprises two horns and a single body (corpus). The uterine horns begin at the oviducts and come together at the body of the uterus (see also Diagram of Female Reproductive System – In Situ). The body of the mouse uterus is composed of a cranial portion, which contains two cavities separated by a medial septum, and a caudal portion, the cervix, which, unlike the rat cervix, is undivided and connects to the vagina. The wall of the uterus consists of, from inside to outside, the endometrium, myometrium (inner circular and outer longitudinal smooth muscle layers), and adventitia. The endometrium comprises a lamina propria and a simple columnar epithelium extending tubular endometrial glands into the lamina propria.
The 4X micrograph is a cross section of the uterine horn of a non-pregnant female mouse, showing lumen, endometrium, myometrium as well as the isthmus of the oviduct. The 10X micrograph displays the endometrial glands embedded in the lamina propria. The endometrial glands are visible in detail in the 20X micrograph. The 40X micrograph is a close-up of the simple columnar epithelium and the lamina propria.
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