[Anatomy of cervical changes at the end of pregnancy (author's transl)].

The problem of anatomical changes in the uterine cervix at the end of pregnancy is discussed and contrasted to the anatomy of the uterine corpus during pregnancy. The muscles of the uterine cervix have proven functionally unimportant in contrast to earlier held views. However, the function of the myometrium of the uterine corpus has its well known significance. Very important changes appear, on the other hand, in the connective tissue of the cervix. The collagen and the ground substance are metabolized completely. As a consequence, the resulting structural transformation allows rapid dilatation of the cervix during delivery. We have to admit that, unfortunately, we have no causal explanation for the overal control of this connective tissue transformation either by hormones or by the autonomic nervous system.