UTERUS (DEVELOPMENT). 



uterine cavity, but the lower forms an attached 

 base of greater or less breadth, which is conti- 

 nuous in its entire circumference with the 

 parietal decidua. The two chambers are 

 totally distinct, and have no communication 

 with each other. In aborted specimens, an 

 aperture may be sometimes seen in the base 

 or outer surface of the foetal chamber, or that 

 part which has been torn away from the ute- 

 rine substance. In a very early specimen in 

 my possession, and also in another which I 

 have examined, one or more points are dis- 

 tinguishable also upon the upper or northern 



655 



pole of the little spherical chamber, which 

 have the appearance of apertures recently 

 closed. Coste, in his beautiful series of illus- 

 trations*, directs attention, in several figures, 

 to a similar spot in the same situation, having 

 the appearance of a recently closed aperture, 

 or umbilicus. These traces of openings in 

 both the upper and lower poles of the sphere, 

 are of consequence, in reference to the expla- 

 nation which will be presently offered of the 

 mode of formation of the decidua reflexa and 

 foetal chamber. 



The outer surface of this chamber is nearly 



Fig. 453. 



Uterus in the first month of gestation ; showing the formation of the fcctal chamber by the decidua reflexa, 



more advanced than in fig. 450. (Afler Coste.) 



u, uterine walls laminated and traversed by numerous vessels; dv, decidua vera or developed lining 

 membrane of the uterus, the uterine glands or canals being much enlarged ; d r, decidua reflexa, in which 

 lies o, the ovum, at this stage often still unattached ; c, corpus luteum. 



smooth. Upon it, however, are seen the bilicus, but become more distinct towards the 

 orifices of numerous uterine glands. These * Histoire Ge'nerale et Particuliere du Developpe- 

 are usually wanting near the centre, or urn- ment des Corps Organises. 



