|
Glossary - U
Ultrasound : An investigative procuedure where the inside of the body is looked at (visualised) using high-frequency sound waves. These waves bounce off tissues and organs inside the body. They are then converted into a picture called a sonogram. Ultrasounds allows doctors and their patients to get an inside view of the body in a safe, non-invasive way. Ultrasound is often used to examine a foetus during pregnancy.
Uterine fibroids: Abnormal, benign (non-cancerous) growths of muscle within the wall of the womb.
Uterine polyps: Abnormal, benign (non-cancerous) growths attached to a short stalk that protrudes from the inner surface of the womb.
Uterosacral ligaments: The supports that hold the womb in place inside the body. This is a common place to find endometriosis.
Uterus: The womb. It is an organ inside the woman’s body which is responsible for carrying a foetus during pregnancy. The lining of the womb sheds every month, in response to hormones, if a fertilised egg is not received. The bottom or opening of the womb is called the cervix.
|
|