Q.(a) Describe the structure of the human uterus with a neat labelled diagram. [figure: labelled diagram of the human uterus, to be drawn by the candidate — not printed in the question paper] OR

(a) The uterus is a muscular, pear-shaped organ with fundus, body and cervix regions and three wall layers (perimetrium, myometrium, endometrium). (b) India's reproductive health strategy combines education, healthcare access, contraception, safe abortion services, and government programmes.

(a) The uterus (womb) is an inverted-pear-shaped, thick-walled, highly muscular and elastic organ located in the pelvic cavity, positioned between the urinary bladder (anteriorly) and the rectum (posteriorly). Anatomically it is divided into the fundus (the rounded, dome-shaped top portion above the entry points of the fallopian tubes), the body or corpus (the main, largest central portion where implantation of the embryo occurs and where the fetus develops), and the cervix (the narrow, lower neck-like portion that projects into and opens through the cervical canal into the vagina). At its upper lateral corners (cornua), the uterus connects to the two fallopian tubes (oviducts), through which the ovum travels from the ovary. Histologically, the uterine wall has three distinct layers: the perimetrium, a thin outer serous membrane; the myometrium, a thick middle layer of smooth muscle fibres that undergoes strong rhythmic contractions during labour (parturition) to expel the fetus; and the endometrium, the innermost glandular, highly vascular mucosal lining that undergoes cyclical changes through the menstrual cycle under hormonal control, thickening to receive and support the implanted blastocyst and being shed as menstrual flow if fertilisation does not occur.

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