1 80 SE V EN TEEN TH LECTURE. 



which is so thoroughly impressed the stamp of a proliferating 

 formative life as the uterus. 



Its fleshy substance is formed of longitudinal, transverse 

 and oblique muscles. Developed in an annular form, it at 

 last constitutes the sphincter uteri. 



The mucous membrane — its tissue reminds one of lymphoid 

 connective substance — is lined with ciliated epithelium. Be- 

 low, in the neck, commences the stratified flattened epithe- 

 lium of the vagina. The surface of the mucous membrane is 

 sometimes smooth (fundus and body), sometimes with trans- 

 verse folds (upper portion of the cervix), sometimes projecting 

 in papillae (terminal portion of the cervix). 



Tubular, frequently spiral uterine glands, which are sub- 

 ject to considerable variation, occur in the fundus and body 

 of the uterus. They have a lining of ciliated cylinder cells 

 (Lott). Our glands disappear below. 



The uterus has a highly developed system of blood-ves- 

 sels. The wide veins coalesce with the tissue of the latter, 

 and gape in transverse sections. 



The lymphatic apparatus also acquires a great develop- 

 ment, especially in the loose connective tissue of the mucous 

 membrane, then in the muscular layer, and finally, in the 

 subserous layer (Leopold). This is also in beautiful harmony 

 with this proliferating formative life. 



The immense enlargement of the pregnant uterus consists 

 in the first line, in an increase of the muscular tissue. The 

 old mucous membrane is hereby disposed about the ovum as 

 a so-called transient membrane, the decidua, while a new 

 mucous membrane, destined to be a substitute, is meanwhile 

 formed beneath. Still, much is here obscure, and, in certain 

 groups of mammalial animals, we meet with great variations. 



In the vagina we find external annular, and internal lonm- 

 tudinal muscles. The mucous membrane shows numerous 

 rugosities and folds, columnae rugarum. It has no glands, 

 and is covered by stratified, flattened epithelium. 



The hymen is a vascular duplicature of the mucous mem- 

 brane. 



