Thus the uterus is intimately connected with all the neighbouring parts; to the urinary bladder, rectum, and sides of the pelvis, by the proton( 11171, and to the by its neck, which is surrounded by the vagina, so as to leave a concave circular space at the ex tremity of the vagina. The u/rrns is also further sup ported by two strong ligamentous and vascular cords, resembling in some respects the spermatic cords in man, that pass from the atlantal corners of the uterus, obliquely sacrad, to be inserted into the groins. These arc called the round ligaments of the uterus. These round ligaments are largest next the fundus of the ute rus, and grow gradually smaller as they approach the groins. They run for some distance between the dou blings of the broach ligaments.
On each side of the fundus of the uterus, and at the distance of about an inch from it, within a doubling of the broad ligament, lies an oval body, called ovary (ova num). These bodies are nearly straight on their atlan tal edge, rounded on their sacral side, (Fyfe's Compen dium, vol. ii. p. and flattened sternad and dorsad. They are usually about half the size of the male testes, and, like them, are covered by a coat reflected from the peritoneal membrane, in which they are enveloped. They are connected to the fundus of the uterus by two small solid cords, called the round ligaments of the ova ries. Examined centrally, these bodies are found to be composed of a loose cellular substance, intermixed with nerves and vessels, and containing within it a number of little vesicles, compared to eggs, and therefore called ova. These vesicles are usually about as large as a small pea, and are filled with a whitish glairy fluid, similar to the white of egg. These are supposed to be the embryos of foetuses. Their number varies greatly in different individuals; sometimes there are not more than ten, and at others above fifteen have been counted in each ovary.
Within the cavity of the uterus, at the atlantal angles, are observed two orifices, so small as only to admit a hog's bristle. These orifices lead to two membranous tubes, one on each side of the fundus of the uterus. These are the uterine, or, as they are called, the Fallo pian tubes. They are of a conical form, being smallest next the uterus, and gradually expanding as they ex tend along the atlantal margins of the broad ligaments. They pass over the ovaries, and their remote extremi ties are so situated, that, on certain occasions, they can grasp those bodies, and receive into their cavities the ova that are detached from them. At these remote ex
tremities, the diameter of the tubes nearly equals that of a goose quill, and here they expand into a number of fringes, called which are longer on one side of the tube than on the other. These fringed extremities, in the ordinary state of the uterine system, are supposed to float loosely within the pelvis; but when an ovum is to be extruded from the ovary, they are believed to ap ply themselves closely to the surface of the ovary, and thus assist the passage of the ovum into the uterine tube, along which it is conveyed through the small on abuse noticed, into the cavity of the uterus.
Tlw tubes are of a spongy structure, much convoluted towards their larger extremities, and susceptible of con siderable dilatation. Their central surface is lined by a continuation of the mucous membrane of the uterus, furnished, as in the rest of these organs, with nume rous folds. here, however, the folds are chiefly ill a longitudinal direction.
The uterus and its appendages are supplied with ar teries from the hypogastries and sperniaties. Their veins are large and tortuous. Large nervous filaments go to these organs from the sacral nerves and the great sympatheties, and numerous absorbents of considerable size may be traced from them to the lumbar glands, and to those which are situated in the lateral parts of the pelvis.
The female reproductive organs, like those of the male, experience various important changes during the successive periods of life. In infancy and childhood, the more important organs are small, and deeply con cealed among their membranes at the bottom of the pel vis. The external orifice of the vagina is nearly closed by a membrane called the hymen, which is generally supposed to remain as long as a female continues in the virgin state. The ovaries are remarkable, previous to the age of puberty, for their long and narrow form, and for the smoothness of their peripheral surface. The age of puberty is accompanied by important changes in the female as well as the male organs. Those within the pelvis, in particular, become more developed ; the uterus rises higher within that cavity, and its vessels receive more blood ; the ovaries contract in length, be come plumper and irregular on their peripheral sur face, from the increased size of the ova contained within them.