76 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



The human uterus consists of two parts, the corpus or body 

 of the uterus, and the cervix or neck, which opens into the vagina. 

 The body of the uterus contains the following layers, which 

 correspond with those of the Fallopian tubes : (1) A serous 

 layer ; (2) a thick muscular layer, consisting of three more or 

 less blended sub-layers ; and (3) a still thicker layer, known as 

 the mucous membrane or mucosa (sometimes called the endo- 



FIG. 2. Transverse section through Fallopian tube, showing folded 

 epithelium and muscular coat. 



metrium), which is composed of a connective tissue containing 

 spindle-shaped cells, and is lined by a ciliated epithelium 

 bounding the uterine cavity. The mucosa contains numerous 

 tubular glands, which open out into the cavity of the uterus 

 and are covered by an epithelial layer, these being continuous 

 with the epithelium of the surface. The sub-epithelial mucosa, 

 which is sometimes called the uterine stroma, contains also a 

 number of blood-vessels and lymph spaces. The vessels are 

 branches of the ovarian and uterine arteries and veins. The 



