The uterus (from the Latin, meaning “womb”) is an inverted, pear-shaped structure located between the urinary bladder and the rectum. The uterus is normally 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) long and 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide. It weighs 1 to 1.4 ounces (30 to 40 grams). During pregnancy, implantation of a fertilized ovum occurs in the uterus. The uterus then houses, nourishes, and protects the developing fetus. It can increase three to six times in size during the course of pregnancy. At the end of gestation, the uterus is usually 12 inches (30 centimeters) long and weighs 2.4 pounds (1,100 grams). The total weight of the uterus and its contents (fetus and fluid) at the end of pregnancy is approximately 22 pounds (10 kilograms).