DEVELOPMENT OF UTERINE GLANDS 209 
In adults, glands with many branches near their ends, as 
described by Moéricki, have been noted. The narrow, short 
necks are prominent. The branching gives the effect of a net- 
work of tubular glands running parallel to the surface just inside 
the muscle layer. Anastomoses between different glands are 
found. Both isolated and grouped glands are common. 
The particular feature of the adult glands which has empha- 
sized itself in our minds is that the majority of the glands run 
parallel to the surface near the muscle layer, and run also in one 
direction. We do not believe, but cannot deny, that the latter 
is due to the contraction of the muscular layer. We have not 
determined what may be the meaning of this running in one 
direction, nor, unfortunately, can we tell whether this direction 
is toward the fundus or toward the os uteri. 
It has been suggested that the branches which we describe 
as returning toward the epithelial surface are individual glands 
which have lost their connection with the surface following 
menstruation. Hedblom’s model of an eighteen-year-old stage 
shows these structures. However, ours have enlarged ends and 
have the appearance of terminations similar to glands of whose 
terminations, deep in the stroma, there is no question. 
The tendency for several glands to open side by side in a 
common furrow or depression of the uterine epithelium has been 
mentioned. 
It will be seen, from the foregoing, that the adult glands are 
not simple straight tubular glands as the text-books imply, but 
are branched tubular glands with frequent anastomoses. Our 
conception of the adult glands forces us to agree with Minot’s 
statement, above quoted, and in general with that of Hedblom 
as illustrated in his models. 
The senior author recently had the opportunity of seeing the 
series of models made by C. A. Hedblom! at the Harvard Medical 
School. One of these is figured in Minot’s text and is described 
by Lewis in the last edition of his Histology. The series consists 
1We are under obligations to Drs. J. L. Brewer and C. A. Hedblom for per- 
mission to make comparisons between our models and those of the latter, now 
in the department of Anatomy at the Harvard Medical School. 
THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ANATOMY, VOL. 27, NO. 2 
