598 



UTERUS AND ITS APPENDAGES. 



suddenly just before terminating in a widely flexuosities, which produce an appearance of 

 expanded funnel-shaped orifice. In the latter contraction at intervals. But that no such 

 half of its course the tube exhibits certain contractions really exist is rendered evident by 



Fig. 404. 



Left Fallopian tube from an adult. (After Richard.} 



a, pavilion and fimbrise ; b, body of the tube ; c, abdominal orifice ; d, tubo-ovarian ligament and fringes ; 

 e, commencement of the tube; ff, tnbal mesentery; g, ovary; h, ligament of the ovary ; i, uterus ; 

 /, round ligament. 



distending the tube with air or water ; a pro- 

 cess which invariably removes this appearance, 

 and serves to demonstrate the uniform and 

 equable enlargement of the canal. 



The length of the tube varies in different 

 subjects, and to a slight extent on the two 

 sides of the same subject. But this difference 

 is not nearly so marked as that often ob- 

 served between the respective distances of 

 the two ovaries from the uterus. The ordi- 

 nary range of length of the tube, measured 

 between its extreme points and disregarding 

 the flexuosities, is 3^ 4^"; but the curvature 

 and flexuosities add usually 1 l^"to this 

 length. 



The breadth of the tube is considerably 

 greater at the distal than at the proximal 

 end. Just at the point of emergence from 

 the uterine border, where the tube is firm and 

 cord-like (fig. 404. e), its external diameter 

 is 1^ 2"'. From this point it gradually 

 increases in breadth, and becomes softer, so 

 as to assume the general appearance of an 

 intestine. The mean diameter of the tube is 

 found at about three-fifths of its length (b) 

 from the uterine end, where it measures 2^'" ; 

 from this point the enlargement is more rapid, 

 until the greatest diameter is attained just 

 before the terminal contraction occurs, and 

 here the transverse measurement is b'". 



Situation and connections. Of the three 

 structures termed appendages which arise in 

 a triangular form from the superior angle of 

 the uterus, the Fallopian tube occupies the 

 apex of the triangle, while, at nearly equal 

 distances from it are inserted the ligament of 



the ovary, and the round ligament ; the for- 

 mer posteriorly, and the latter anteriorly. In 

 the natural position of the parts, the tube, 

 viewed from without, appears to spring from 

 the uterine angle with a slight downward 

 curve (fig. 404. e), and then inclining hori- 

 zontally forwards and outwards, it describes 

 an irregular semicircle, whose inner side looks 

 backwards towards the ovary (g), which 

 is placed nearly opposite to the centre of its 

 length (figs. 3(38. and 404.). Such at least 

 are the relative situations which these parts 

 exhibit when spread out equidistantly from 

 each other : although it is probable that 

 during life they are more collapsed and lie 

 closer together, the anterior wall of the 

 tube then being in apposition with the sides 

 and back of the bladder, while its pos- 

 terior wall corresponds, at its centre, with 

 the ovary, the superior border with the 

 small intestine, and the interior with the fold 

 of peritoneum by which the tube is at- 

 tached to the broad ligament. The mouth 

 or abdominal end of the tube is generally 

 directed inwards and backwards, towards the 

 distal extremity of the ovary, in close proxi- 

 mity to which it is preserved by means of the 

 tubo-ovarian ligament ( figs. 368. n and 404. 

 rf). 



The fold of peritoneum (fig. 404. /), 

 which connects the tube with the main por- 

 tion of the broad ligament resembles a 

 mesentery and serves to convey blood-vessels 

 and nerves, as well as to sustain the tube 

 in its place, and to limit its movements. It 

 constitutes that portion of the broad ligament 



