a. Mucosa of the Body.—This is whitish and rosy; according to Coste and Robin it is from .23 to .31 inches thick, according to Sappey only from .039 to .078 inches. As it approaches the superior angles its thick ness lessens; at the opening of the tubes it is scarcely .018 inches. It also lessens near the internal os, but not so much. It has no papilla', and the only thing noticeable is a multitude of orifices which are the openings of as many small glands. It is closely connected with the muscu lar coat. It consists of a layer of cylindrical epithelium, with vibratile cilia, which move from without inward; this layer is shallow. The deep layer, a true mucosa, is underneath, and consists (Robin) of a connective tissue in the embryonic condition, that is, of an embryo-plastic nucleus, and fusiform bodies, of some fibrous laminated tissues, of special cells identical with those of the ovisac, of an amorphous material, of glands, of vessels and of nerves. The glands are in rectilinear or slightly flexu ous tubes of a cylindrical shape. They are generally simple. According to the recent researches of de Sinety their secretion does not have a true mucous character.
b. Mucosa of the Cervix.—It is whiter, firmer, and not so thick.
The epithelial layer in the two superior thirds, consists of a cylindrical and vibratile epithelium pavement near the external orifice. The rest of the cervix is covered by an epithelium formed of calciform cells; these produce the mucus.
The deep layer consists of a fibrous connective tissue, in which a very few round cells can be found.
The mucosa of the cervix has very small papillae, which are only on the inferior half, and are completely covered by the epithelium.
The glands are in a cluster. They extend to the muscular layer, are covered by calciform cells, and end in a single tube, which opens at the bottom of the grooves, which separate the markings of the arbor yaw.
They often disappear, enlarging according to the accumulation of mu ens, and forming little cysts, which are called the glandulte nabothi. Naboth considered them as ovules, which had fallen from the body into the cavity of the cervix.
At the periphery of the os tincte the mucosa is smooth and red; it is prolonged, and blends with that of the vagina.