THE UTERUS
The sow’s uterus is distinguished by its short body and long, intestiniform horns (Figure 35-3/5,8). The body, about 5 cm long, is shorter than first appears because the immediately adjacent parts of the horns lie side by side within common investments (as in ruminants).
In the nongravid state each horn measures about 1 m, and as it is suspended by a fairly generous broad ligament (Figure 35-3/6), it enjoys considerable freedom of position, relations, and arrangement, although it fails to reach the abdominal floor. Some parts become mingled with coils of small intestine and can be confused with these. The cervix, which lies half within the abdomen and half within the pelvis, is peculiar for its length (ca. 25 cm) and for the rows of mucosal prominences (Figure 35-3/11) that project into the lumen, interdigitate, and thus close the canal, except at estrus and parturition. Its junctions with the uterine body and the vagina taper and are ill defined.
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