OVAKY (FUNCTIONS). 



557 



rally he found in the ovary one or more fol- 

 licles in conditions similar to those just de- 

 scribed. The ordinary state in which the 

 Graafian follicle is found has been explained 

 at p. 550. Vesicles in the state there de- 

 scribed may be seen at all times in the healthy 

 ovary, sometimes near its surface, and at 

 others buried more deeply ; but when they 

 increase in growth beyond this size, and are 

 preparing to rupture, one or more will always 

 be found approaching the periphery of the 

 ovary, or rising above the level of its outer 

 tunics, constituting there a nipple-like pro- 

 minence, so distinct as at once to arrest 

 attention, and to point out the part of the 

 ovary in which the dehiscence will next occur 

 C%. 380.o). 



Fig. 380. 



a 



Ovary from a woman aged 22, h-Jw died on the tenth 

 daij after the commencement of her last menstrual 

 period. (Ad Nat.) 



A follicle is preparing for spontaneous rupture at 

 a, where, a considerable prominence occurs, and 

 where the peritoneal and albugineous coats are 

 almost entirely absorbed. 



In general, only one follicle will be found 

 preparing for rupture ; but sometimes two, or 

 possibly three, may be observed in the same 

 condition in one ovary. The growth has now 

 been so considerable, that instead of measuring 

 only li.'"_2'", or even 3'", it has now a di- 

 ameter of 5i 1'", the breadth being usually 

 somewhat less than the length, for it rarely 

 happens that the follicle is perfectly spherical. 

 In consequence of this increased growth the 

 follicle projects from the surface, and causes 

 the swelling just described, whilst the accu- 

 mulation of fluid within it produces a softness 

 and sense of fluctuation in this part of the 

 ovary, which is very obvious to the touch. 

 Over the centre of this projection the pe- 

 ritoneum is exceedingly thin, and in some 

 places is wanting, partly from absorption, and 

 partly from laceration, the result of over- 

 stretching and distension. 



The tunica albuginea also of the ovary 

 may be absorbed, or may have become 

 so exceedingly thin, as to permit the blood- 

 coloured contents of the vesicle partially 

 to appear through it, giving to the spot a 



peculiar brick-red colour. Around the mar- 

 gin or base of the prominence the fibres 

 of the tunica albuginea are often seen to 

 be separated at short distances, forming 

 concentric lines or interrupted circles ; the 

 red contents showing through the interspaces, 

 and producing an appearance of alternate 

 white and red lines (fig. 380. Z>). Beyond 

 this circumference, the base of the promi- 

 nence exhibits the usual white colour of the 

 ovarian coverings. Numerous red vessels, 

 chiefly veins (jig. 380. c), ramify towards the 

 projecting spot, and some of these traverse 

 it to its summit, coursing over the promi- 

 nence in serpentine lines, and forming here a 

 rich plexus. 



A clean section through the centre of the 

 projecting follicle lays open an ovoid cavity, 



Fig. 381. 



The same ovary (ad Nat.} as in Jig. 380. laid open, 

 displaying, 



a, the cavity of the enlarged follicle ; c, the corre- 

 sponding half of the same ; b, a blood-clot. Nu- 

 merous follicles of the ordinary size are seen scat- 

 tered through the ovary. 



(jig- 381. a), containing usually a deep red 

 clot, b, together with a certain quantity of 

 blood and a bloody fluid. The clot has as 

 yet no adhesion to the walls of the cavity, 

 and is easily washed away. 



If the ovary has been examined not too long 

 after death, the ovum may possibly be found 

 lying imbedded in the granules of the mcm- 

 braiia graiuilosa, immediately beneath the most 

 projecting point of the follicle. But more 

 commonly, the examination not being made 

 until after this delicate membrane has melted 

 down, and its granules have become dispersed 

 by post-mortem change, the ovum cannot be 

 discovered. 



After washing out the contents of the 

 follicle, the inner surface of the ovisac is ex- 

 posed (jig. 381. c). This I have occasionally 

 seen to be of an intense red colour, from the 

 surface being covered by a rich network of ca- 

 pillaries filled with blood. But most com- 

 monly the colour of the ovisac throughout, as 

 far as the outer tissue of the follicle, is at this 

 time a clear, pale, chrome yellow, this coat being 

 now also very soft in texture. It is important 

 to observe that the yellow colour includes 

 the whole thickness of the ovisac, or inner 

 coat of the Graafian follicle, which now mea- 

 sures from to \'" in thickness, but that it 

 extends no further ; the outer coat, or thcca 



