Normal and abnormal labor: mechanisms for its control.
For labor to begin, changes in local steroid hormonal activity in the uterus occur that allow response of receptor activity to occur to increased fetal hormonal activity at maturation. The initial changes of hormonal mileau allow for cervical ripening and the inducement of gap junction formation in the myometrium to allow coordinated uterine contractions. When labor is determined to be abnormal by well-defined clinical parameters, thoughtful use of oxytocin augmentation can result in a successful outcome.
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D007745:Labor Onset; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D009215:Myometrium / Q000502:physiology; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy