Uterus didelphys | |
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Other names | Bicervical bicornuate uterus |
Ultrasound showing didelphys | |
Specialty | Gynecology |
Uterus didelphys (from Ancient Greek di- 'two' and delphus 'womb'; sometimes also uterus didelphis) represents a uterine malformation where the uterus is present as a paired organ when the embryogenetic fusion of the Müllerian ducts fails to occur. As a result, there is a double uterus with two separate cervices, and possibly a double vagina as well. Each uterus has a single horn linked to the ipsilateral fallopian tube that faces its ovary.
Most non-human mammals have a non-single uterus with separation of horns. Marsupials and rodents have a double uterus (uterus duplex). In other animals (e.g. nematodes), the term 'didelphic' refers to a double genital tract, as opposed to monodelphic, with a single tract.