THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. 



233 



the epithelium is ciliated columnar, similar to that of the body of the 

 organ. In addition to the scattered tubular follicles, the representa- 

 tives of the usual uterine glands, numerous short mucous crypts, 

 with expanded blind extremities, lie embedded within the mucosa ; 

 these pour out the thick glairy mucous secretion which is character- 

 istic of the glands of the cervix. Not infrequently retention of the 

 secretion takes place in some of these mucous follicles, the glands 

 then undergoing transformation into greatly-distended cysts, the 

 ovula Nabothi ; these appear as translucent yellowish vesicles em- 

 bedded within the mucosa and readily seen by the unaided eye. In 



FIG. 274. 



Section of uterus through lower segment of cervix from child : a, vaginal surface covered with 

 squamous epithelium ; 6, c, d, e, variously-disposed bundles of non-striped muscle ; f, g, blood-ves- 

 sels ; h, fibrous tunica propria covered by columnar epithelium (/) ; k, folds of mucosa projecting 

 within lumen of canal (C). 



the absence of glands the mucous membrane of the lowest part of 

 the cervix still further resembles that of the adjacent vaginal surface. 

 The exterior of the projecting portion of the cervix is covered with 

 an extension of the vaginal mucous membrane. With the recurrence 

 of each menstrual period the uterine mucous membrane under- 

 goes changes destined to prepare this surface as a favorable place 

 for the reception and retention of the ovum during gestation in the 

 event of impregnation. Greatly-increased vascularity, softening and 

 thickening of the mucous membrane, with increase in the length of 

 the glands and in the number of the leucocytes, are among the 

 changes then taking place. Should impregnation occur, these altera- 



