[Arteries of the uterine cervix in reproductive age in microangiographic studies]

The main aim of our research was the estimation of cervical arteries in women in the reproductive age.

Study was performed on 61 cases of organs taken, during autopsies, from the minor pelvis composing the female genital organs, urinary bladder, rectum and the upper part of the vagina from women aged 18 to 41. The material was divided in two groups: mothers and non mothers. The uterine arteries of a fresh specimen have been injected with radiological contrast medium Hexabrix 200 and Ultravist 370. The global X-rays of the organ complex and the microangiography of the uterine cervix were made. After that uterus was sectioned horizontally in sections of 4-5 mm thick and series of x-rays was performed. The number, size and way of uterine artery branches in the cervix were estimated.

The cervical branches of the uterine artery were present in every cases. Usually branches were from 1 to 4 in number. All the branches were divided in cervical walls, very rich in upper and poorer in lower part of organ. Radiographic analysis revealed that connections between cervical vessels on both sides of the same uterus weren't permanent. Their absence was associated with the presence of the hypovascular or even avascular zone in the middle of the anterior and posterior cervical wall.

The cervical branches of both uterine arteries are always present in the reproductive age, Number, size, course and way of cervical branches are different in all parts of the organ. The angioarchtectonic of cervical vessels does not depend on past pregnancies.