uterine gland

{{Infobox anatomy

| Name = Uterine glands

| Latin = glandulae uterinae

| Image = Gray1169.png

| Caption = Vertical section of mucous membrane of human uterus. (Glands labeled at center right.)

| Image2 = Gray32.png

| Caption2 = Diagrammatic section through an implanted blastocyst in the endometrium showing uterine glands ug.

| Precursor =

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| Artery =

| Vein =

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Uterine glands or endometrial glands are tubular glands, lined by a simple columnar epithelium, found in the functional layer of the endometrium that lines the uterus. Their appearance varies during the menstrual cycle. During the proliferative phase, uterine glands appear long due to estrogen secretion by the ovaries. During the secretory phase, the uterine glands become very coiled with wide lumens and produce a glycogen-rich secretion known as histotroph or uterine milk.{{cite journal |last1=Burton |first1=GJ |last2=Cindrova-Davies |first2=T |last3=Turco |first3=MY |title=Review: Histotrophic nutrition and the placental-endometrial dialogue during human early pregnancy. |journal=Placenta |date=December 2020 |volume=102 |pages=21–26 |doi=10.1016/j.placenta.2020.02.008 |pmid=33218574|s2cid=214025290 |url=https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/302791 }}{{cite journal |last1=Kelleher |first1=AM |last2=DeMayo |first2=FJ |last3=Spencer |first3=TE |title=Uterine Glands: Developmental Biology and Functional Roles in Pregnancy. |journal=Endocrine Reviews |date=1 October 2019 |volume=40 |issue=5 |pages=1424–1445 |doi=10.1210/er.2018-00281 |pmid=31074826|pmc=6749889 }} This change corresponds with an increase in blood flow to spiral arteries due to increased progesterone secretion from the corpus luteum. During the pre-menstrual phase, progesterone secretion decreases as the corpus luteum degenerates, which results in decreased blood flow to the spiral arteries. The functional layer of the uterus containing the glands becomes necrotic, and eventually sloughs off during the menstrual phase of the cycle.

They are of small size in the unimpregnated uterus, but shortly after impregnation become enlarged and elongated, presenting a contorted or waved appearance.