202 ELEMENTS OF MAMMALIAN ANATOMY 



median longitudinal section through the vagina. Bartholin's 

 vestibular glands lie on the lateral aspect of the vestibule, into 

 which their ducts open. Each one is about the size of a small 

 pea. The vagina, uterus, and uterine tubes are lined with 

 mucous membrane in which are many glands. The mucous 

 lining is surrounded by a muscular coat especially thick in the 

 uterus. 



The ovaries are the organs producing the female germ cells 

 or ova which when fertilized are known as the eggs (Figs. 6i 

 and 97). One lies caudad of the kidney on each side and is 

 invested by peritoneum, which should be carefully dissected 



Fig. 100. — Section of Ovary. X 40. 

 sr. Surface of the ovary; gr, Graafian follicle with mature ovum; o, ovum; 

 c, cavity of the follicle; un, undeveloped ova; sirm, stroma or connective ele- 

 ments of the ovary; m, membrana granulosa; d, discus proligerus (cumulus 

 oophorus). 



away. A microscopically prepared section of the adult ovary 

 magnified about 100 diameters will reveal a number of ova in 

 a more or less mature state. Usually a peripheral ring of 

 very young ova is present, more mature ones are near the center, 

 while one or two quite ripe ova are very near the circum- 

 ference. As the ova develop, a follicle or sac known as the 

 vesicular follicle (Graafian follicle) is formed about them. This 

 is lined with several layers of epithelial cells forming the stratum 

 granulosum. At one side of the follicle the stratum granulosum 

 thickens and envelops the ovum, forming the cumulus oophorus. 

 The cavity of the follicle is filled with liquor folliculi. When 

 the ovum becomes almost mature, the walls of the follicle have 

 grown peripherad, so as to cause a pin-head protuberance on 

 the surface of the ovary clearly visible to the naked eye. In a 



