THE VAGINA. 



461 



TvhicV descends in the form of a cul-de-sac thus far between the vagina 

 and the rectum. 



Externally the-vagina presents a coat of dense areolar tissue, and 

 beneath this its walls are composed of unstriped muscle, which is not 



Fi-. 328. 



Fig. S28. — Sectional View of the Viscera of the Female Pelvis (after Houston and 

 from nature). (A. T. ) 5 



The pelvic viscera having Leen distended and hardened with alcohol previously to mak- 

 ing the section, appear somewhat larger than natural. p, promontory of the sacrum ; 

 s, symphysis of the pubes ; v, the upper part of the urinary bladder ; v', the neck ; 

 v', n, the urethra ; 11, the uterus ; v a, the vagina ; r, the point of union of the middle 

 and lower parts of the rectum ; r', the fold between the middle and upper parts of the 

 rectum ; a, the anus ; I, the right labium ; n, the right nympha ; Ji, the hymen ; d, the 

 divided clitoris with the prepuce. 



distinctly separable into strata, but is composed chiefly of fibres 

 internally circular and externally longitudinal. Round the tube a 

 layer of loose erectile tissue is found, which is most marked towards 

 the vulva. 



At its lower end, the vagina is embraced by striated muscular fibres, 

 which constitute the spltinder ragince, already described. 



The mucous membrane, besides the columns and rugse, is provided 

 with conical and filiform papillte, numerous muciparous glands and 

 follicles, especially in its upper smoother portion and round the cervix 

 uteri. This membrane, which is continuous with that of the uterus, is 

 covered with a squamous epithelium. 



