US Medical Term · anatomy
Cervix
Cuello uterino
Also: Cérvix (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Cervix |
| Spanish (Español) | Cuello uterino |
| Chinese (中文) | 子宮頸 |
| Korean (한국어) | 자궁경부 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Cổ tử cung |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Leeg ng matris |
| Portuguese (Português) | Colo do útero |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ปากมดลูก |
| Japanese (日本語) | 子宮頸部 |
What it means
The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus that connects to the vagina. It forms a natural opening called the cervical os, which allows menstrual blood to pass from the uterus and allows sperm to enter during intercourse. During childbirth, the cervix softens and dilates (opens) to allow the baby to be born. A Pap smear, also called a Pap test, is a routine screening that collects cells from the cervix to check for abnormal changes that could indicate cervical cancer or precancerous conditions. HPV infection is the primary cause of cervical cancer. Regular screenings can detect problems early when they are most treatable.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My Pap smear came back abnormal and the doctor wants to look more closely at my cervix.
El resultado del Papanicolaou salió anormal y el médico quiere examinar el cuello uterino más de cerca.
I had cervical biopsy results and want to understand what they mean.
Tuve resultados de biopsia del cuello uterino y quiero entender qué significan.
The doctor said my cervix looks inflamed — what does that mean?
El médico dijo que el cuello uterino está inflamado — ¿qué significa eso?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026