Biology of Man 515 



is a heavy, mucous, glandular layer to which the fertilized ovum may 

 adhere. The uterus is well supplied with blood vessels for the nourish- 

 ment of the future embryo. 



With the onset of sexual maturity (puberty) the female begins to ovu- 

 late (produce and mature an ovum in the ovary). The production and 

 maturation of the ovum are illustrated in Fig. 351. The ovum is ripened 

 within the ovary and released into the Fallopian tube where it may be 

 fertilized by a male sperm, or die if not fertilized. The sperm have been 

 deposited in the vagina during copulation and have moved up the Fallo- 

 pian tubes. Each developing ovum in the ovary is contained within a 



Tube 



Ovary 



Round 

 ligament 



Fundus 



Ovary 



Uterine 

 tube 



Ovarian 

 artery 



broad 

 llgameul 



Vagina 



Uterine 

 cavity 



Ureter 



Uterine 

 artery 



Fig. 255. — Human female reproductive organs showing the uterus, ovaries, and 

 associated organs. The left half shows posterior (back) view and right half a 

 diagrammatic section. The ovary reveals several internal follicles in which the 

 ova (eggs) are formed. The uterine tube is also called the Fallopian tube. 

 The outer, funnel-shaped end of the Fallopian tube (near the ovaries) opens into 

 the body cavity. The round and broad ligaments give the tubes and ovaries sup- 

 port. (From Pitzman: Fundamentals of Human Anatomy). 



Graafian follicle which in later stages of its development occupies 

 a position near the surface of the ovary, appearing there as a small bump. 

 In fact, an ovary may possess several Graafian follicles in various stages 

 of development at the same time. When the ovum is mature, the follicle 

 ruptures the wall of the ovary and deposits the ovum in the coelom (body 

 cavity) from which it passes into the Fallopian tube. Most of the Gra- 



