902 



OF GENERATION ACTION OF THE FEMALE. 



Turner has pointed out, that as soon as the ovum is received into the uterus 

 the mucous membrane swells. The ciliated epithelium often, though not 

 always, loses its columnar form, and the cells multiply in order to cover the 

 increased surface. The subepithelial tissue increases enormously, which is 

 due to the multiplication and development of the corpuscles which are 



FIG. 315. 



FIG. 316. 



FIG. 315. Section of the Lining Membrane of a Human Uterus at the period of commencing preg- 

 naney, twice the natural size ; showing the arrangement and other peculiarities of the glands, p,p,p. 

 with their orifices, a, a, a, on the internal surface of the organ. 



FIG. 316. A portion of Fig. 315 more enlarged; showing the convoluted extremities of the tubular 

 glandules. 



abundantly distributed through its tissue. The branched glands naturally 

 present, as seen in vertical sections, are separated to a much greater distance 

 from each other in consequence of the growth of the subepithelial tissue, 

 and are augmented in size. The whole membrane becomes much more 

 vascular. On its surface pitlike depressions may be seen, which were for- 

 merly thought to be the enlarged mouths of the glands, but which Professor 

 Turner has ascertained to be new-formed pits or crypts in the interylandular 

 tissue. Into these crypts the villi of the choriou penetrate. 



752. The Deciduous membrane is found at a later period to consist of two 

 layers: the Decidua, vera lining the uterus, and the Decidua reflexa covering 

 the exterior of the ovum. The observations of M. Coste and Dr. Farre 

 show that there is considerable resemblance between the two at an early 

 period, and from their observations and those of Reichert, 1 it would appear 

 that when the ovum enters the uterus, it becomes attached to some part of 

 a triangular area of the decidua vera, on which numerous cotyledonary 

 elevations or islands exist. The spot at which the ovum is attached (Fig. 

 317) ceases to grow, but a remarkable development of primary and secondary 

 papillary processes takes place in the adjoining islands, in consequence of 

 which a cup-shaped depression is formed, in which the ovum is lodged. The 



1 Keichert's Archiv, 1873, p. 127. 



