THE FEMALE GENERATIVE APPARATUS. 181 



The clitoris has a prepuce of mucous membrane tissue ; 

 the female glans is also covered by such a membrane with 

 numerous papillae. The corpora cavernosa and bulbi vesti- 

 buli remind us of the same tissue in the male. 



The labia minora, nymphae, are folds of mucous mem- 

 brane, containing no fat, but numerous papillae and sebaceous 

 follicles. 



The labia majora are rich in fat, and have internally the 

 characteristics of the mucous tissues, externally those of the 

 corium. 



In the vestibulum and the ostium vaginae, numerous 

 mucous glands occur. The glands of Duverney or Bartho- 

 lini are larger organs of this kind. 



The lacteal glands are primarily of similar formation in the 

 male and female body ; they do not become developed in the 

 former, and in the latter only after a prolonged period of 

 quiescence, and even then only when pregnancy commences. 



We recognize in the mammary gland an aggregation of in- 

 dividual racemose glands, which open into numerous (18, 20 

 and more) canals, the so-called "lactiferous ducts." 



Examined in the earlier period of life, our organ consists 

 merely of a ramified canal-work. It is hollow above ; below 

 in its knob-like terminal portion, it is completely plugged by 

 closely compressed cellular masses. The special gland-vesi- 

 cles or acini destined for secreting are still wanting. This is 

 the condition, during the days of childhood, of the male and 

 female lacteal gland, though the latter gradually advances 

 somewhat in its development. 



The entrance of puberty exerts no influence oh the male 

 organ, but a great one on that of the female. There is here 

 a bud-like production of numerous terminal vesicles. As- 

 sisted by a development of fat cells, they produce the curved 

 elevation of the maturing female breast. In this manner the 

 female gland is prepared for a possibly coming activity ; but 

 it is only with pregnancy, and towards the end of the same, 

 that the lacteal secreting apparatus acquires its complete de- 

 velopment. 



