230 



NORMAL HISTOLOGY. 



FIG. 271. 



THE PAROVARIUM. 



The parovarium, the epoophoron, or the organ of Rosen- 

 muller, consists of a group of tubular structures lying transversely 

 within the broad ligament, between the ovary and the oviduct ; the 

 short vertical tubules lie irregularly parallel or converge somewhat 

 at their ovarian ends, while their opposite extremities are connected 

 with a longitudinal head-tube of larger diameter, which extends 

 downward often for some distance within the broad ligament. The 

 tubules are lined by low columnar epithelial cells, the represen- 

 tatives of the elements clothing the embryonic canals. The parova- 

 rium represents the partially-obliterated re- 

 mains of parts of the Wolffian body ; the 

 transverse canals correspond to the tubules of 

 the body, while the head-tube is identical 

 with the upper part of the Wolffian duct; 

 when this latter canal persists throughout the 

 greater part of its original extent it constitutes 

 Gartner's duct, the homologue of the vas 

 deferens. Other foetal remains are sometimes 

 encountered, as rudimentary tubules em- 

 bedded within the broad ligament nearer the 

 uterus than the parovarium ; these structures 

 constitute the paroophoron, and represent 

 the atrophic transverse tubules of the lower portion of the Wolffian 

 body, being homologous with the paradidymis in the male. The 

 closed tubules of the paroophoron are lined by low columnar epi- 

 thelium, and are often occluded by the partially-shed cells. 



The stalked hydatid of Morgagni frequently forms a conspicuous 

 appendage to the ovary. This pedunculated vesicle represents the 

 remains of the duct of the pronephros, and is common to both sexes ; 

 low columnar or cuboidal epithelium forms the lining of its dilated 

 sac and stalk as far as pervious. 



THE OVIDUCT. 



The oviduct, or Fallopian tube, consists of three coats, an 

 inner mucous, a middle muscular, and an outer serous. 



The mucous membrane of the oviduct is thrown into longitu- 

 dinal folds, which correspond in their amplitude to the general 

 variation in the size of the tube, being low towards the small uterine 

 end and increasing in height and in complexity on approaching the 

 expanded fimbriated extremity of the canal. On transverse section 

 through the smaller portions of the tube, the longitudinal folds give 

 to the lumen a generally stellate outline, the complexity of the figure 



Portion of tubules of par- 

 ovarium : w, canals lined 

 with cuboidal epithelium 

 embedded within surround- 

 ing connective tissue is). 



