Biomechanics of the human uterus

Kristin M. Myers, David Elad, Elad D
Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Systems biology and medicine · 2017 · vol. 9(5) · doi:10.1002/wsbm.1388 · PMID:28498625 · W2613015375
review OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 7 in-corpus citations
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This review synthesizes current knowledge on the biomechanics of the human uterus, exploring its nonpregnant and pregnant functions, associated signaling mechanisms, and computational modeling approaches to understanding uterine diseases.

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Abstract

The appropriate biomechanical function of the uterus is required for the execution of human reproduction. These functions range from aiding the transport of the embryo to the implantation site, to remodeling its tissue walls to host the placenta, to protecting the fetus during gestation, to contracting forcefully for a safe parturition and postpartum, to remodeling back to its nonpregnant condition to renew the cycle of menstruation. To serve these remarkably diverse functions, the uterus is optimally geared with evolving and contractile muscle and tissue layers that are cued by chemical, hormonal, electrical, and mechanical signals. The relationship between these highly active biological signaling mechanisms and uterine biomechanical function is not completely understood for normal reproductive processes and pathological conditions such as adenomyosis, endometriosis, infertility and preterm labor. Animal studies have illuminated the rich structural function of the uterus, particularly in pregnancy. In humans, medical imaging techniques in ultrasound and magnetic resonance have been combined with computational engineering techniques to characterize the uterus in vivo, and advanced experimental techniques have explored uterine function using ex vivo tissue samples. The collective evidence presented in this review gives an overall perspective on uterine biomechanics related to both its nonpregnant and pregnant function, highlighting open research topics in the field. Additionally, uterine disease and infertility are discussed in the context of tissue injury and repair processes and the role of computational modeling in uncovering etiologies of disease. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2017, 9:e1388. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1388 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.

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Condition tags

endometriosisadenomyosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Adenomyoma Endometriosis Infertility Models, Biological Premature Birth Uterine Neoplasms Uterus Adenomyoma Biomechanical Phenomena Embryo Implantation Embryo Implantation Endometriosis Female Humans Infertility Pregnancy Premature Birth Uterine Neoplasms Uterus

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