526 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



that two groups of effects, which were antagonistic to one 

 another, could be produced by stimulating the sacral set of 

 nerves in the vertebral canal, but that, as in the male, only 

 those fibres which exercised an inhibitory influence run from 

 the spinal cord in the sacral nerve roots. The inhibitory effects 

 produced were (1) Flushing of the vulva and clitoris, (2) Dilata- 

 tion of the vulva, and (3) Relaxation of the skin muscles sur- 

 rounding the vulva. The visceral motor effects were the same 

 as those produced by the lumbar set of nerves as described 

 above. Besides these effects, contraction was induced in the 

 external sphincter of the vagina and in the striated genital 

 muscles. 



THE INNERVATION OF THE OVARIES 



The ovary is innervated from the sympathetic plexus ac- 

 companying the ovarian artery and from the plexus associated 

 with the ovarian branch of the uterine artery. It is generally 

 supposed that the nerve fibres, which are non-medullated, are 

 merely vascular in function. 1 The fact that ovulation in some 

 animals only occurs as a consequence of coition, and then takes 

 place at a definite time afterwards, points to the conclusion 

 that the follicles discharge in response to a stimulus conveyed 

 to the ovary by its nerves (see p. 134). It has been suggested 

 that the rupture is due to the stimulation of erectile tissue. 2 

 Nerve fibres have been described in the tissue immediately 

 surrounding the follicles, and have even been traced as far as 

 the follicular epithelium. 



1 Von Herff, " Ueber den feineren Verlauf der Nerven im Eierstocke des 

 Menschens," Zeitftchr. f. Oeburt. u. Oyndk,, vol. xxiv., 1892. Gawronsky, 

 " Ueber Verbreitung und Endigungen der Nerven in den weiblichen Geni- 

 t.-ilii'M," Arch. f. Q /rtiik., vol. xlvii., 1894. Kallius, " Nervendigungen in 

 Driisen d. Eierstocke," Merkel and Bonnet's Ergeb. d. Anat. u. Entwick., 

 vol. iv., 1895. Mandl, " Ueber Anordnung und Endigungsweise der Nerven 

 im Ovarium," Arch. f. Oyndk., vol. xlviii., 1894-5. Vallet, " Nerfs d'Ovarie," 

 &c., Thesis, Paris, 1900. Abel and Mcllroy, " Nerves of the Ovary," 

 Phys. Soc., June 5th, 1909. See also references on p. 329. 



2 Rouget, " Recherches sur les Organes Erectiles de la Femme," Jour, de 

 la Phys., vol. i., 1858. 



