The uterine junctional zone

Fusi L, Luca Fusi, Brianna Cloke, Cloke B, Jan J Brosens
Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology · 2006 · vol. 20(4) , pp. 479–491 · doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2006.02.001 · PMID:16631411 · W2140954107
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This paper reviews the anatomy, physiology, and clinical significance of the uterine junctional zone, focusing on its role in uterine contractions and pathologies like adenomyosis.

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Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging has revealed that the endometrio-myometrial interface constitutes a distinct, hormone-dependent uterine compartment termed the junctional zone. In the non-pregnant uterus, highly specialized contraction waves originate exclusively from the junctional zone and participate in the regulation of diverse reproductive events, such as sperm transport, embryo implantation, and menstrual shedding. Conversely, growing evidence suggests that disruption of the normal endometrio-myometrial interface plays an integral role in diverse reproductive disorders. This chapter reviews our current understanding of the mechanisms that govern the cyclic changes in the uterine junctional zone and summarizes the evidence implicating the endometrio-myometrial interface in normal uterine physiology and pathological processes.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Uterus Uterus Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometrium Endometrium Endometrium Female Humans Myometrium Myometrium Myometrium Pregnancy Pregnancy Complications Pregnancy Complications Pregnancy Complications Uterine Diseases Uterine Diseases Uterine Diseases

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (87)

Cited by (50)

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europepmc
last seen: 2026-07-27T06:15:28.040536+00:00
openalex
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License: CC0 · commercial use OK