2006 



HUMAN ANATOMY. 



deriv-^ed from the internal oblique and transversalis, which represent a feebly developed 

 cremaster muscle. After gaining the pelvic wall, the round ligament pursues a course 

 very similar to that of the vas deferens ; morphologically, it corresponds to the 

 genito-inguinal ligament (page 2040). In the foetus the round ligament is preceded 

 by a small peritoneal diverticulum representing the larger processus vaginalis peri- 

 tonei in the male ; usually this disappears, but may persist as a distinct serous pouch, 

 the canal of Nuck, that accompanies the round ligament for a short distance within 

 the inguinal canal. In exceptional cases it may extend throughout the entire length 

 of the canal into the labium majus. 



The peritoneal relations of the two surfaces of the uterus (Fig. 1700) are dif- 

 ferent, the anterior surface being covered with serous membrane only as far as the 



Fig. 



1700. 



Ureter 



Suspensory 

 ligament of ovary 



Fallopian tube 



Round ligament 

 Ovary. 



Obliterated 

 hypogastric artery 



Uterus. 



Symphysis pubis- 



Urethra 



External urethral 

 orifice in vestibule 



Utero-sacral fold 



Rectum 

 External os uteri 



Bottom of recto- 

 uterine pouch 



.Vagina 



Perineal body 



Sagittal section of pelvis of female. 



junction of the body and cervix, from which line the peritoneum passes on to the 

 bladder as the utero-vesical fold z.nA lines the shallow utero-vesical pouch (excavatio 

 vesicouterina). Below the reflection of the peritoneum and as far as its attachment to 

 the vagina, the anterior surface of the cervix is connected by areolar tissue with the 

 adjacent postei ior wall of the bladder. As far as the attachment of the vaginal wall, 

 the posterior surface of the uterus is covered with peritoneum, which then continues 

 downward for about 2.5 cm. over the upper part of the back wall of the vagina before 

 being reflected onto the rectum as the vaghio-rertal fold. The latter forms the bot- 

 tom of the deep serous pozic/i of Dojiglas (excavatio rectouterina) that lies between the 

 uterus in front and the rectum behind. The lateral boundaries of the opening into 

 this pouch are formed by the two crescentic utero-rectal folds (plicae rectouterina) that 

 curve from the hind surface of the cervix backward to the posterior pelvic wall at the 



