Abstract
An: 2015, Nr.3, Articol Nr. 26
Title: 
CERVICAL LENGHT IN PREGNANCY – CLINICAL ASPECTS
Authors: 
Cristina Vasiliu, Cristina Vasiliu, Gabriela Dănileţ, Oana Florescu, Ana Bădănoiu, Roxana Ene - University of Medicine and Pharmacy ,,Carol Davila” Bucharest, University Emergency Hospital Bucharest, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
CERVICAL LENGHT IN PREGNANCY – CLINICAL ASPECTS (Abstract):The cervix plays a unique role in pregnancy. The closed and uneffaced cervix physically maintains the fetus in utero and secretions from the cervix form the mucus plug that is partly responsible for preventing ascending infection. The mechanical properties of the cervix undergoes modelling that transforms it from a rigid mechanical structure in a compliant structure. In early pregnancy, it acts as a barrier that resists forces exerted by the growing fetus in the uterus, and at the end of pregnancy the effacement of the cervix allows the expulsion of the fetus. All these changes are due to cervical extracellular matrix, namely collagen structure of this matrix.Detection of women with a sonographically short cervix in the second trimester (weeks 20 to 24) is associated with an increased rate of spontaneous premature births, independent of fetal fibronectin testing and other important risk factors for premature birth. Recognizing these changes can help us identifying patients who are heading to a premature birth and we can take preventive measures thus decreasing neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Key words: UTERINE CERVIX, PREMATURE BIRTH, TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASOUND