BLOOD-VESSELS OF THE UTERFS. 467 



the active ciliary motion. The epithelium of the general surface of the 

 mucous membrane of the uterus is columnar and ciliated throughout. 



Ligamenis of the tderus. — Where the peritoneum is reflected from the 

 uterus to the bladder in front, and to the rectum behind, it forms, in 

 each position, two semilunar folds, named respectively, the vcsico-utcrine, 

 and the recio-uterine folds, or sometimes tlie anterior and the iiosterior 

 ligamenis of the ucerus. 



The hroad ligaments (ligamenta lata) are formed on each side by a 

 fold or double layer of the peritoneum, which is directed laterally out- 

 wards from the anterior and posterior surfaces of the uterus, to be con- 

 nected with the sides of the pelvic cavity. Between the two layers of 

 the serous membrane are placed, first, superiorly, the Fallopian tube, 

 which runs along the upper margin of the broad ligament ; secondly, 

 the round ligament, which is a little farther down in fi-ont ; 

 thirdly, on the posterior surface, the ovary and its ligament, which 

 lie in a special extension of the ligamentum latum ; and, lastly, 

 throughout the greater part of the broad ligament, blood-vessels, 

 lymphatics, and nerves, with spreading fibres from the superficial 

 muscular layer of the uterus. The ligament of tiie ovary is merely 

 a dense fibro-areolar cord, containing some uterine muscular fibres, 

 and measuring about an inch and a half in length, which extends 

 from the inner end of the ovary to the upper angle of the uterus, which 

 it joins immediately behind and below the point of attachment of the 

 Fallopian tube ; it causes an elevation of the posterior layer of the 

 serous membrane, and, together with the ovary itself, forms the lower 

 limit of a triangular portion of the broad ligament, which has been 

 named the ala vesper tilion is or bat's wing. 



The round ligaments are two flat, cord-like bundles of fibres, about 

 four or five inches in length, attached to the upper angles of the uterus, 

 one on either side (ligamentum teres uteri), immediately in front of 

 the Fallopian tube. From this point each ligament proceeds upwards, 

 outwards, and forwards, to gain the internal inguinal ring, and after 

 having passed, like the spermatic cord in the male, through the 

 inguinal canal, reaches the fore part of the pubic symphysis, where its 

 fibres expand and become united with the substance of the mons 

 Veneris. Besides areolar tissue and vessels, the round ligaments con- 

 tain plain muscular fibres, which are prolonged into them from the 

 outer muscular layer of the uterine wall. Each ligament also receives 

 a covering from the peritoneum, which, in the young subject, projects 

 under the form of a tubular process for some distance into the inguinal 

 canal : this, which resembles the processus vaginalis originally existing 

 in the same situation in the male, is named the canal of Nuck ; it is 

 generally obliterated in the adult, but is sometimes found even in 

 advanced life. 



Blood-vessels. — The ai-icr'ws of tlic iitcrus are four in number, viz., the 

 right and left ovarian (which correspond to the spermatic of the male) and 

 the two vter'nic. Their orig-in, as well as the mode in which they reach the 

 uterus and ovaries, has been already described. They are remarkable for their 

 frequent anastomoses, and also for their singularly tortuous com-se ; within the 

 substance of the uterus they seem to be placed in little channels or canals. 

 The vci7is con-espond with the arteries ; they are very large, and form the uterine 

 plexuses, and their thin walls are in immediate contact with the uterine tissue. 

 The course of the lymphatics has been previously described ; they are very large 

 and abundant in the gravid uterus. 



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