Mechanisms of normal labour

Human labor is a complex and highly regulated event, whereby high-intensity and high-frequency myometrial contractions are critical contributions to the expulsion of the fetus from the womb. Though the exact process of human labor is not yet defined, recent research has elucidated several key factors that contribute to uterine activation. In this review, we summarise the mechanisms of myometrial contractility at an organ, cellular and molecular level.