THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. 237 



papillae and well-developed sebaceous follicles are common to 

 both surfaces of the nymphae, but sweat-glands, hairs, and fat are 

 wanting. The interior of the nymphae contains venous spaces in 

 abundance, which, in connection with the unstriped muscle also 

 present, produce a layer resembling erectile tissue. The blood- 

 vessels of the labia majora are similar to those supplying the integu- 

 ment ; in the nymphae the mucous surfaces are beset with vascular 

 papillae, which contain the terminal capillary loops. 



The lymphatics consist of the interfibrillar lymph-clefts and the 

 more definite channels which are present as small lymphatic vessels 

 accompanying the larger blood-vessels from the areolar tissue. 



The nerves of the nymphae, derived from branches supplying the 

 lower part of the vagina, include both medullated and pale fibres : 

 numerous special end-bulbs, the genital corpuscles of Krause, 

 represent the particular terminations. 



The clitoris largely repeats the structure of the corresponding 

 male organ, subject, however, to the modifications incident to the 

 feebler development of the parts. The glans possesses small and 

 large papillae, which contain simple and compound arterial tufts, 

 while some of the smaller elevations are occupied by the peculiar 

 nervous end-bulbs or the genital corpuscles. Sebaceous follicles 

 also surround the glans and are present in the outer layer of the 

 prepuce ; on the glans itself they are almost wanting. The erectile 

 tissue constituting the diminutive corpora cavernosa and the glans 

 consists of the same elements as the corresponding structures of the 

 penis. 



The mucous membrane lining the vestibule closely resembles that 

 covering the inner surface of the nymphae, and is prolonged inward 

 into the vagina and the urethra. A thick layer of stratified squa- 

 mous epithelium rests upon a tunica propria containing bundles 

 of elastic tissue, and many mucous follicles, the latter being espe- 

 cially abundant in the vicinity of the urethral orifice. The submucous 

 tissue around the vestibule and base of the nymphae is so generously 

 supplied with intercommunicating venous channels that in many 

 places the part assumes the characters of erectile tissue. 



The glands of Bartholin are two round or oval yellowish bodies, 

 about i cm. in diameter, lying on either side of the lower part of 

 the vagina. These structures are the homologues of Cowper's glands 

 in the male ; they are racemose glands, composed of small groups 

 of acini lined with clear mucous cells. Each gland is connected 

 with the inner surface of the nymphae by a long slender duct lined 

 with low cuboidal epithelium. The character of the secretion of 

 these glands is muco-serous. 



The female urethra differs from the canal in the male in being 



