562 



UTERUS AND ITS APPENDAGES. 



The inner coat becomes folded, and forms 

 convolutions, which increase and become 

 deeper in proportion as the retractility of the 

 external tunic increases. 



These convolutions in the inner and now 

 yellow coat of the follicle are so distinct and 

 striking (Jig, 385.) as to have suggested those 

 comparisons with the cerebral convolutions 

 which so many authors have employed in 



describing this change ; for the colour, as well 

 as the nature and arrangement of the foldings, 

 constituting ridges and sulci, produce an exact 

 miniature resemblance to the surface of the 

 brain. 



If the blood-clot, which is generally found 

 contained within the ruptured ovisac, be of 

 considerable size, its surface will frequently 

 exhibit little furrows, more or less deep, cor- 



Fig. 385. 



Section of the ovary of a woman who was poisoned by opium. A large Graafian follicle, which had re- 

 cently burst and discharged its contents, is laid open. The part of the ovary surrounding the aperture was 

 loaded with vessels full of blood. The convolutions of the collapsing follicle are very distinct. The follicle 

 is empty. (Ad Nat.) 



responding with the convolutions of the ovisac, 

 by contact with which they have been im- 

 pressed. This clot becomes adherent to the 

 walls of -the ovisac; assumes by degrees a 

 pale rose hue ; and gradually diminishing by 

 absorption and contraction, it constitutes a 

 centre, towards which the rays of the convolu- 

 tions from all sides are directed. 



But if there be no considerable clot in the 

 centre of the follicle, then its closure proceeds 

 more rapidly. The angles of the convolutions 

 approach each other more nearly, but there 

 still remains a space in the centre which may 

 be empty, or contains only the debris of old 

 coagula. 



Lastly, if the cavity is empty, the retracti- 

 lity of its outer coat soon effects its closure. 

 The angles of the convolutions, now com- 

 pressed one against the other, come into 

 contact across the cavity, and end by adhering 

 together, and so the cavity is obliterated. 



If, during the progress of these changes 

 within the follicle, the external surface of the 

 ovary be examined about the seat of rupture, 

 it will be found that the parts in the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood of the laceration become 

 paler, that the blood gradually deserts the ves- 

 sels, which were before highly congested, in 

 this situation; and that, as cicatrisation ad- 

 vances, the zone becomes less and less dis- 

 tinct, disappearing, finally,about the time when 

 the last traces of the laceration are effaced. 



These changes in the ovarian follicle after 

 rupture exhibit certain differences among the 

 Mammalia, in some of whom, for example, 

 there may be seen to project from the aperture 



a fleshy mass, sometimes occasioned by the 

 presence of a coagulum, but more constantly 

 by an exuberant growth of the lining mem- 

 brane of the follicle, which for some time 

 protrudes through the orifice, and may often, 

 at this stage, be drawn out entire by the for- 

 ceps, without difficulty. Its colour is not 

 alike in all the Mammalia. In the sow, it 

 resembles the liver of a calf; in the cow and 

 sheep, it is of a brick-red. 



In Man, the follicle has generally shrunk to 

 very small dimensions by the time that one or 

 more of the next series, which is preparing 

 for development, have reached and protruded 

 from the surface. The cavity by this time is 

 nearly effaced. The chrome-yellow colour of 

 the walls has also disappeared, and the ovisac 

 has gradually become white. Its appearance 

 upon section at this time is very striking and 

 characteristic. In the centre (fig- 372. /*) is 

 still perceptible a small space, which might 

 contain the head of a pin. It is surrounded 

 by a white irregular circle, from which pro- 

 ceed outwardly about a dozen little rays. The 

 circle is formed by the united inner angles of 

 the follicular convolutions. The rays consist 

 each of a double layer of the folded membrane. 

 The apices of the rays are the original outer 

 angles of the serpentine folds or convolutions 

 of the ovisac. The outer coat of the Graafian 

 follicle can now no longer be seen. At this 

 time, the remnant of the shrunken vesicle 

 measures about \^'" diam. 



Finally, whilst the foregoing changes are 

 proceeding internally, a corresponding altera- 

 tion takes place at the surface of the ovary. 



