A cervix that is 4 cm dilated and 60% effaced indicates what about the cervix?

A cervix that is 4 cm dilated and 60% effaced indicates that the opening of the cervix is 4 cm wide, allowing some passage of the fetal head, which is a critical factor in labor progression. Dilation refers to the width of the cervical opening, measured in centimeters, and a dilation of 4 cm signifies that the cervix has begun to open in preparation for delivery.

Effacement describes the thinning and shortening of the cervix as it prepares for childbirth. A cervix that is 60% effaced means it has thinned significantly but is not completely effaced (which would be 100%). This combination of dilation and effacement indicates that the body is progressing toward active labor, but it does not suggest that the baby cannot pass through; in fact, a dilation of 4 cm typically allows for some degree of fetal descent. Therefore, the correct interpretation of the dilation measurement accurately reflects the state of the cervix in labor.