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57-474: It is known in Bulgarian as Utrobata ( Утробата , Bulgarian pronunciation: [oˈtrɔbɐtɐ] , lit.   ' The Womb ' ) or Peshtera Utroba ( Пещера Утроба , [pɛʃtɛˈra oˈtrɔbɐ] , 'Womb Cave'). The cave is located 20 kilometers from the city of Kardzhali near the village of Ilinitsa and it dates to 480 BC. It is also referred to as "The Cave Womb" or "Womb Cave" because

114-541: A choriovitelline placenta (which can be thought of as something between a monotreme egg and a "true" placenta), in which the egg's yolk sac supplies a large part of the embryo's nutrition but also attaches to the uterine wall and takes nutrients from the mother's bloodstream. However, bandicoots also have a rudimentary chorioallantoic placenta, similar to those of placental mammals. The fetus usually develops fully in placental mammals and only partially in marsupials including kangaroos and opossums . In marsupials,

171-558: A Turkish majority of 55.5%, while Bulgarians are 40.5% and others and undeclared are 4%. In 2001, the population of Kardzhali municipality consisted of 53% Turks, 42% Bulgarians and others and undeclared. The municipal government today is primarily in the hands of the Turkish-dominated Movement for Rights and Freedoms . In December 1989 and January 1990 there were a series of demonstrations in Kardzhali against

228-682: A town in the Eastern Rhodopes in Bulgaria , centre of Kardzhali Municipality and Kardzhali Province . The noted Kardzhali Reservoir is located nearby. It is an important regional economic hub. Kardzhali is located in the low eastern part of Rhodope Mountains , on both banks of the river Arda between the Kardzhali Reservoir to the west and the Studen Kladenets Reservoir to the east. The town

285-653: Is 260 km (162 mi) southeast of Sofia . It has a crossroad position from Thrace to the Aegean Sea —part of European transportation route 9, via the Makaza mountain pass. Kardzhali has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification : Csa ), that is bordering closely on a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification : Cfa ), according to the Köppen climate classification . The city has hot summers and cold winters. The area where

342-406: Is an opening in the ceiling which allows the light into the cave. The light creates a phallus shape every day at noon, but it only reaches the altar on one day of the year. In the middle of the day at certain time of year the light which is in the shape of a phallus penetrates deep into the cave all the way to the altar. In February or March the light takes the shape of a phallus and enters a hole at

399-633: Is bordered to the west by Kardzhali Dam , and by Studen Kladenets Dam to the east. At maximum capacity, the waters of the Studen Kladenets Dam extend to the foot of the old Veselchane bridge. The concrete wall of the Kurdzhali Dam is located about two kilometers (1.2 miles) upstream from that bridge. The banks of the river running through the town have been adjusted by the recently completed Water Mirror reservoir, creating an environment for water sports and recreational activities. In

456-521: Is considered a complex astronomic facility (compared to Stonehenge in Great Britain) as the ray of light enters the cave on a single day of the year. There are many stone castles and palaces that the Thracians built in the region, including Perperek, Ustra , and Vishegrad . The most magnificent is Perperikon , where a Thracian king resided. The place has become increasingly popular since

513-435: Is covered by a sheet-like fold of peritoneum, the broad ligament . The uterus has three layers, which together form the uterine wall . From innermost to outermost, these layers are the endometrium , myometrium , and perimetrium . The endometrium is the inner epithelial layer , along with its mucous membrane , of the mammalian uterus. It has a basal layer and a functional layer; the functional layer thickens and then

570-407: Is known as the junctional zone , which becomes thickened in adenomyosis . The perimetrium is a serous layer of visceral peritoneum . It covers the outer surface of the uterus. Surrounding the uterus is a layer or band of fibrous and fatty connective tissue called the parametrium that connects the uterus to other tissues of the pelvis. Commensal and mutualistic organisms are present in

627-541: Is located in the old konak (the Turkish town-hall built around 1870) with its period exterior architecture. There are many open-air restaurants, offering a variety of drinks and cocktails in summer time on the dam. It is a popular place among fans of water sports and fishing. The town has two drama theaters — "Dimitar Dimov" and "Kadrie Lyatifova", a puppet theater and a museum of history medrese , as well as an art gallery. 5 km (3 mi) from Kardzhali, near

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684-593: Is named after Kardzhali. Longdistance hiking path the Sultans Trail passes Kardzhali dam, city center and many villages. FK Arda Kardzhali , founded on 13 October 1924, is an association football club currently competes in the First League , the top tier of the Bulgarian football league system. They play at the Arda Arena . The town is situated on the north and south banks of river Arda and it

741-532: Is now a monument of medieval architecture. Apart from the fortress of Vishegrad on the right bank of the Arda, the eastern approaches of the town were protected by the medieval castle of Monyak on the left bank of the river. A couple of other monasteries were built during this era, with some of them remaining until the early 19th century. The area was of strategic importance for the Bulgarian Empire during

798-438: Is shed during the menstrual cycle or estrous cycle . During pregnancy , the uterine glands and blood vessels in the endometrium further increase in size and number and form the decidua . Vascular spaces fuse and become interconnected, forming the placenta , which supplies oxygen and nutrition to the embryo and fetus . The myometrium of the uterus mostly consists of smooth muscle . The innermost layer of myometrium

855-435: Is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals , including humans, that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more fertilized eggs until birth . The uterus is a hormone -responsive sex organ that contains glands in its lining that secrete uterine milk for embryonic nourishment. (The term uterus is also applied to analogous structures in some non-mammalian animals.) In

912-436: Is the most commonly performed gynecological surgical procedure . Uterus transplantations have been successfully carried out in a number of countries. The transplant is intended to be temporary – recipients will have to undergo a hysterectomy after one or two successful pregnancies. This is done to avoid the need to take immunosuppressive drugs for life with a consequent increased risk of infection. The procedure remains

969-637: The First World War , Bulgarian Christian refugees from Eastern and Western Thrace settled in Kardzhali. Some Turks immediately moved to the remains of the Ottoman Empire in 1913 in response to the Bulgarians moving to their lands. Further emigration to Turkey continued between 1913 and 1989. This included two emigration waves in the 1930s and 1950s as a result of treaties between Bulgaria and Turkey and most notably in 1989 in response to

1026-613: The fallopian tubes and the uterus. In humans, the lower segments of the two ducts fuse to form a single uterus; in cases of uterine malformations this fusion may be disturbed. The different uterine morphologies among the mammals are due to varying degrees of fusion of the Müllerian ducts. Various congenital conditions of the uterus can develop in utero . Though uncommon, some of these are didelphic uterus , bicornate uterus and others. See also List of related male and female reproductive organs . The primary reproductive function of

1083-420: The fundus – the uppermost rounded portion of the uterus above the openings of the fallopian tubes , the body , the cervix , and the cervical canal . The cervix protrudes into the vagina . The uterus is held in position within the pelvis by ligaments , which are part of the endopelvic fascia . These ligaments include the pubocervical ligaments , the cardinal ligaments , and the uterosacral ligaments . It

1140-417: The interspinal line . The uterus is mobile and moves posteriorly under the pressure of a full bladder, or anteriorly under the pressure of a full rectum. If both are full, it moves upwards. Increased intra-abdominal pressure pushes it downwards. The mobility is conferred to it by a musculo-fibrous apparatus that consists of suspensory and sustentacular parts. Under normal circumstances, the suspensory part keeps

1197-483: The paramesonephric ducts , which fuse into the single organ known as a simplex uterus. The uterus has different forms in many other animals and in some it exists as two separate uteri known as a duplex uterus. In medicine and related professions, the term uterus is consistently used, while the Germanic -derived term womb is commonly used in everyday contexts. Events occurring within the uterus are described with

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1254-426: The platypus and the echidnas , either the term uterus or oviduct is used to describe the same organ, but the egg does not develop a placenta within the mother and thus does not receive further nourishment after formation and fertilization . Marsupials have two uteri, each of which connect to a lateral vagina and both use a third, middle "vagina", which functions as the birth canal. Marsupial embryos form

1311-525: The sun and the earth . Near the village of Nenkovo (northwest of Kardzhali), an artificial cave was found in 2001. It has the form of a woman's womb and is called the Utroba Cave . Exactly at noon, when the sun is highest in the sky, a ray of light comes in through a stone slit forming a falitic shade in the cave. According to the Thracian beliefs, this is the conception of the new sun god. This cave

1368-413: The uterotubal junction . The fertilized egg is carried to the uterus along the fallopian tube. It will have divided on its journey to form a blastocyst that will implant itself into the lining of the uterus – the endometrium , where it will receive nutrients and develop into the embryo proper, and later fetus , for the duration of the pregnancy . In the human embryo , the uterus develops from

1425-542: The 1970s, the reservoir of the Kurdzhali Dam was artificially seeded with sheatfish . Today, specimens that reach 100 kg (220 lb) can be found. In the last years 45,000 carp were introduced into the dam as well. Most recently it was artificially seeded with European perch . The fish were taken from the Ovčarica (Ovcharitsa) dam. Kardzhali is twinned with: Womb The uterus (from Latin uterus , pl. : uteri or uteruses) or womb ( / w uː m / )

1482-501: The Middle Ages and the remains of numerous Medieval fortress scattered on the surrounding hills can still be seen. The town developed largely due to its position on the trade routes during the period of Ottoman rule. However, it remained a small town. During the 18th century, Turkish brigands used this remote town as a hideaway and supply point, and the town was later named after their leader Kırca Ali. The best known of these units

1539-608: The Ottoman Empire as a township of Gümülcine sanjak in Edirne vilayet. Ottoman rule ended during the First Balkan War when the town and the surrounding area were liberated by the Bulgarian General Vasil Delov on 21 October 1912. The day has been celebrated with concerts and commemorative events as a municipal holiday since 1937. Kardzhali was declared the center of Kardzhali Province, when it

1596-634: The Vesselchane Quarter of the town. It was renovated in 2000 and a new bell tower was built. The town clock is unique in Bulgaria because it sounds Bulgarian revolutionary songs every hour. The Kardzhali Museum of History has one of the most extensive exhibitions in Southern Bulgaria. This includes pre-historic tools and ceramics from the Thracian cities of Perperikon and Tatul , Christian icons and ethnographic exhibits. It

1653-595: The absence of fertilization, triggers the shedding of the functional layer of the endometrium. This layer is broken down, shed, and restored in anticipation of the next menstrual cycle. The average bleeding duration during menses is 5-7 days after which the menstrual cycle begins again. During pregnancy , the growth rate of the fetus can be assessed by measuring the fundal height . Some pathological states include: Uterine malformations are mainly congenital malformations , and include uterus didelphys , bicornuate uterus and septate uterus . Congenital absence of

1710-400: The altar: the light then flickers for 1-2 minutes. The penetrating and flickering light is thought to symbolize fertilization. Even today, there are childless couples who go to the cave hoping it will help them conceive a child. Kardzhali Kardzhali ( Bulgarian : Кърджали [ˈkɤrd͡ʒɐli] , Kărdžali ; Turkish : Kırcaali ), sometimes spelt Kardžali or Kurdzhali , is

1767-438: The area once made the town an attractive location for the metallurgy and machine building industry. However, in 2016 the no-longer-operative large Lead and Zinc Complex near the city met its final end with its two stacks being torn down. Nowadays retail trade and services constitute the largest share of local production. The abundance of cultural and natural sights in the area also make it a promising area for tourism. In 2007 in

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1824-517: The cave and altar were used by the Thracians . There are several Thracian sanctuaries found in Bulgaria. Ovcharov believes that it was used as a fertility shrine for the Thracians. The "cult" places of the Thracians are usually located at the top of mountains and they have running water. There is also constantly flowing water at the Utroba Cave, which flows from the cave to the foothills. There

1881-459: The city were opened hypermarkets of the chains Technomarket, LIDL, Billa and Technopolis and the construction of the city's new marketplace was complete. In 2014 a hypermarket of the chain Kaufland opened too. However the local economy has stalled. The percentage of the labour force working in agriculture increased from 41% to 47% in just 7 years (the period between 2010 and 2017). Kardzhali has

1938-424: The embryo, which grows through embryonic and fetal development until childbirth . During this process, the uterus grows to accommodate the growing fetus. When normal labor begins, the uterus forcefully contracts as the cervix dilates, which results in delivery of the infant. In the absence of pregnancy, menstruation occurs. The withdrawal of female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone , which occurs in

1995-457: The entrance is the shape of a vulva. The inside of the cave resembles a uterus . Locally it is also called "The Blaring Rock". Researchers believe that the entrance to the cave was a slit, which was then widened by humans. The entrance to the cave is 3 metres (9.8 ft) tall and 2.50 m (8.2 ft) wide and inside the cave there is a 1.3 m (4.3 ft)-tall altar which has been carved. Archaeologist Nikolay Ovcharov believes that

2052-399: The human uterus is to prepare for the implantation of a zygote , a fertilized ovum , and maintenance of pregnancy if implantation occurs. Traveling along the fallopian tube on its way to the uterine cavity, the zygote divides mitotically to become a blastocyst , which ultimately attaches to the uterine wall and implants into the endometrium . The placenta later develops to nourish

2109-406: The human uterus lies in anteversion and anteflexion. In most women, the long axis of the uterus is bent forward on the long axis of the vagina, against the urinary bladder. This position is referred to as anteversion of the uterus. Furthermore, the long axis of the body of the uterus is bent forward at the level of the internal os with the long axis of the cervix. This position is termed anteflexion of

2166-403: The human, the lower end of the uterus is a narrow part known as the isthmus that connects to the cervix , the anterior gateway leading to the vagina . The upper end, the body of the uterus, is connected to the fallopian tubes at the uterine horns ; the rounded part, the fundus, is above the openings to the fallopian tubes. The connection of the uterine cavity with a fallopian tube is called

2223-514: The last census in 2011 Kardzhali Province is the Bulgarian province with the highest relative proportion of ethnic Turks , though Kardzhali municipality and the city itself have a lower proportion of ethnic Turks than the rest of the province. According to the optional question on ethnic identification, the city itself has a Bulgarian majority (many Bulgarians in Kardzhali are Muslims, also known as Pomaks ) of 61%, while Turks are 34.9% and others and undeclared are 4.1%. The Kardzhali municipality has

2280-413: The last resort: it is as of 2023, a relatively new and somewhat experimental procedure, performed only by certain specialist surgeons in select centres, it is expensive and unlikely to be covered by insurance, and it involves risk of infection and organ rejection. Some ethics specialists consider the risks to a live donor too great, and some find the entire procedure ethically questionable, especially since

2337-441: The liberalization of anti-Turkish laws. A particular issue of contention was whether Turkish should be taught in state schools as an elective. In response Turkish students boycotted schools until the ban on using their mother tongue was discontinued. Formerly Kardzhali was a tobacco processing center, but for economic reasons all of the communist era industrial plants are no longer operative. The large deposits of lead and zinc ore in

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2394-595: The recent archaeological works rendered wealth of artifacts. During the Byzantine period, Kardzhali was the center of a Christian eparchy: Achridos. During the reign of the Bulgarian Empire , Kardzhali was known as Zherkovo a name that was used by the Bulgarians until the 17th century. The Monastery of John the Precursor (Bulgarian: Йоан Продром or Йоан Предтеча) was built in the 6th-8th centuries and

2451-403: The second highest percentage of people working in agriculture, after Silistra Province . Mosque and tombe of the founder of the modern city of Kırcali is situated in the old city near the marketplace. The Thracian town of Perperikon is located near the city on a rock high above the valley. It is interesting for the fact that it is cut in the rock. The monastery from 11th century is located in

2508-457: The state sponsored Revival Process which saw the forced Bulgarisation of ethnic Turks. After 1990 the deteriorating economic conditions in Bulgaria (and especially the region) during the post-communist transition led to significant emigration by both Bulgarians and Turks, with the Bulgarians moving to other parts of the country or abroad and with the Turks moving mainly to Turkey. According to

2565-439: The term in utero . In humans, the uterus is located within the pelvic region immediately behind and almost overlying the bladder , and in front of the sigmoid colon . The human uterus is pear-shaped and about 7.6 cm (3.0 in) long, 4.5 cm (1.8 in) broad (side to side), and 3.0 cm (1.2 in) thick. A typical adult uterus weighs about 60 grams. The uterus can be divided anatomically into four regions:

2622-457: The town of Kardzhali is now located has been inhabited since the Neolithic . Many artifacts , comprising ceramics and primitive tools, have been found during the archaeological excavations. Most of them are now exhibited in the local historical museum. Later Thracian tribes settled in the area and developed a highly advanced civilization. They built many sanctuaries dedicated to the gods of

2679-464: The transplant is not a life-saving procedure. Most animals that lay eggs , such as birds and reptiles , including most ovoviviparous species, have an oviduct instead of a uterus. However, recent research into the biology of the viviparous (not merely ovoviviparous ) skink Trachylepis ivensi has revealed development of a very close analogue to eutherian mammalian placental development. In monotremes , mammals which lay eggs, namely

2736-419: The uterus and form the uterine microbiome . The uterus is primarily supported by the pelvic diaphragm , perineal body , and urogenital diaphragm . Secondarily, it is supported by ligaments, including the peritoneal ligament and the broad ligament of uterus . The uterus is held in place by several peritoneal ligaments, of which the following are the most important (there are two of each): Normally,

2793-429: The uterus forms as a duplex organ of two uteri. In monotremes such as the platypus , the uterus is duplex and rather than nurturing the embryo, secretes the shell around the egg. It is essentially identical with the shell gland of birds and reptiles, with which the uterus is homologous . In mammals, the four main forms of the uterus are: duplex, bipartite, bicornuate and simplex. Two uteri usually form initially in

2850-492: The uterus from anastomosis of these two arteries. Afferent nerves supplying the uterus are T11 and T12 . Sympathetic supply is from the hypogastric plexus and the ovarian plexus . Parasympathetic supply is from the S2, S3 and S4 nerves. Bilateral Müllerian ducts form during early human fetal life. In males, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) secreted from the testes leads to the ducts' regression. In females, these ducts give rise to

2907-447: The uterus in anteflexion and anteversion (in 90% of women) and keeps it "floating" in the pelvis. The meanings of these terms are described below: The sustentacular part supports the pelvic organs and comprises the larger pelvic diaphragm in the back and the smaller urogenital diaphragm in the front. The pathological changes of the position of the uterus are: In cases where the uterus is "tipped", also known as retroverted uterus ,

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2964-415: The uterus is known as Müllerian agenesis . A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, which may be carried out for a number of reasons including the ridding of tumours both benign and malignant . A complete hysterectomy involves the removal of the body, fundus, and cervix of the uterus. A partial hysterectomy may just involve the removal of the uterine body while leaving the cervix intact. It

3021-413: The uterus. The uterus assumes an anteverted position in 50% of women, a retroverted position in 25% of women, and a midposed position in the remaining 25% of women. The uterus is located in the middle of the pelvic cavity, in the frontal plane (due to the broad ligament of the uterus ). The fundus does not extend above the linea terminalis , while the vaginal part of the cervix does not extend below

3078-475: The village of Zimzelen, is a small badlands , where a series of white pillars have eroded out of the volcanic tuff which are referred to as the "Kardzhali Pyramids". Ensembles have been given names based on resemblances. One is known as "The Mushrooms" and another as the "Stone Wedding". Kardzhali Point on Byers Peninsula , Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands , Antarctica

3135-416: The woman may have symptoms of pain during sexual intercourse, pelvic pain during menstruation, minor incontinence, urinary tract infections, fertility difficulties, and difficulty using tampons. A pelvic examination by a doctor can determine if a uterus is tipped. The human uterus is supplied by arterial blood both from the uterine artery and the ovarian artery . Another anastomotic branch may also supply

3192-486: Was created from the most southern part of Stara Zagora Province in 1949. According to the 2011 census, Kardzhali has a population of 43,880, while the Kardzhali municipality (which in addition to the city also includes 117 villages) has a population of 67,846. During Ottoman rule before 1912 most of the population of the city were Muslims – Turks , Pomaks , and Muslim Roma . After the Second Balkan war and

3249-577: Was led by Pazvantoğlu Osman Pasha , who ruled most of the northeastern Bulgarian lands and the Danube estuary until his death in 1807. Kardzhali and its neighborhood became part of the autonomous province of Eastern Rumelia under the stipulations of the Berlin Congress of 1878, but, after the reunification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia in 1885, it was ceded back to

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