472 



Nachdruck verboten. 



The Ligameots of the Oridnct of the Domestic Fowl. 



By Maynie R. Curtis, 



Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, Orono, Me. 



With one Figure. 



An apparent disproportion between the musculature of the wall of 

 the oviduct in the domestic fowl and the powerful peristalsis observed in 

 that organ led the writer to undertake an anatomical investigation of 

 the oviduct and its ligaments. The purpose of this investigation was to 

 determine whether or not there exists an extrinsic musculature capable 

 of aiding peristalsis. It was found that there is a highly developed 

 musculature in the ligaments of the oviduct and it was further de- 

 monstrated that this is continuous with the musculature which is 

 intrinsic in the walls of the oviduct. 



The purpose of the present note is to present briefly the results 

 of this investigation ^). It includes short descriptions of (a) the growth 

 and adult relations of the oviduct and its ligaments and (h) the bundles 

 of muscle fibers which occur in these ligaments and are continuous 

 with the musculature of the walls of the oviduct. 



At hatching the oviduct is a straight, thin walled tube. It is 

 surrounded and suspended by a fold of the peritoneum behind which 

 it arose. This fold extends a little ventrad of the ventral margin of 

 the duct. The part of the fold dorsal to the duct may be designated 

 as the dorsal ligament of the oviduct and the part ventral as 

 the ventral ligament of the oviduct. The two layers of peri- 

 toneum which form this fold are continuous with the peritoneum covering 

 the permanent kidney and dorsal body wall along the line of origin of 

 the oviduct. The anterior end of the dorsal ligament suspends an ante- 

 rior elongation of the funnel from the body wall. The anterior end 

 of the ventral ligament attaches a posterior elongation of the funnel 

 to the ventral margin of the oviduct. These attachments spread out 

 the mouth of the funnel beneath the caudo-lateral angle of the ovary. 



1) For a full account cf. Curtis, M. E,,, The Ligaments of the 

 Oviduct of the Domestic Fowl. Maine Agricultural Experiment Station 

 Bulletin 176, 1910. 



