THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



forms the attachments to the mother that 

 are necessary to its further development. 

 A minute description of these accessory 

 organs belongs to descriptive anatomy 

 and I shall not do more than attempt to 

 give you a more or less clear idea of their 

 form position as we progress. 



The ovaries, as you see, are situated to 

 either side of the uterus in close proximity 

 to the fimbriated ends of the fallopian 

 tubes. 



Each ovary is about an inch and one- 

 half in length, half an inch in thickness 

 and three-quartersof an inch wide. They 

 weigh about 75 grains each. 



In making a section of the ovary it is 

 seen to consist of two kinds of tissue ; a 

 cortical substance about -w^ of an inch in 

 diameter and a medullary substance con- 

 taining a large number of blood vessels. 

 The cortical substance alone contains the 

 Graafian follicles. 



The medullary substance consists of 

 trubeculue of fibrous tissue, a few mus- 

 cular fibres and a large number of blood- 

 vessels. 



Graafian follicles were first described 

 by De Graaf in 1672. They are contain- 

 ed in the outer or cortical substance of 

 the ovary only, and according to Henle 

 are about 36,000 in number. A Graaf- 

 ian follicle at the age of puberty meas- 

 ures from the smallest -g-^o- inch in diameter 

 to the largest nearly half inch in 

 diameter. In a fully developed follicle 

 an ovum measures about y^ inch in 

 diameter. 



In the process that culminates in the 

 discharge of the ovum into the fallopian 

 tube the Graafian follicle gradually en- 

 larges and finally ruptures on the surface 

 of the ovary. A Graafian follicle con- 

 sists of a proper coat and a lining mem- 

 brane, both of which are composed of 

 fibrous tissue. Within this is a layer of 

 epithelial cells called the membrana 

 granulosa. These cells form an accumu- 



lation at a certain point being pushed 

 over as it were by the liquid that fills the 

 Graafian follicle. This accumulation is 

 called the discus proligerus and contains 

 the ovum in its center. 



The Uterus, or as it is commonly called, 

 the womb, is a pear shaped body situated 

 between the bladder in front and the 

 rectum behind. It opens below into the 

 vagina by an opening called the os- 

 uteri. It is usually when not impreg- 

 nated about three inches long and two 

 inches wide at its widest portion, where 

 the fallopian tubes come off. It is held 

 in place by ligaments that are attached 

 to the pelvic walls and adjacent organs. 



The uterus consists of muscular fibres 

 of the non-striated variety and it is the 

 contraction of these fibres that ultimately 

 results in the expulsion of the matured 

 foetus. It is lined by mucous membrane. 

 This membrane is smooth and firmly at- 

 tached to the body of the uterus and un- 

 dergoes remarkable changes during men- 

 struation. Under ordinary conditions its 

 tnickness i.s from ^r to y^ of an inch in 

 diameter, but it measures during men- 

 struration ^ to y of an inch. 



The Fallopian Tubes lead from the 

 ovaries to the uterus, as shown in the 

 drawing. They open into the uterus by 

 a small opening that gradually increases 

 in diameter, so that they are rather 

 trumpet shaped. Near the ovary they 

 turn backward and downward. The ex- 

 tremity near the ovary is fimbriated. 

 The tubes are lined by mucous mem- 

 brane which is covered by ciliated epith- 

 elium. 



The Ovum is, as you remember, is con- 

 tained in the Graafian follicle surround- 

 ed by the discus proligerus. 



There have been many descriptions of 

 the anatomy of the ovum offered to 

 science, but that of Nagel is the one 

 generally accepted. 



The human ovum is y^- of inch in 



