798 



THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. 



[CH. LVII. 



within the protoplasm, from which it subsequently grows out ; it 

 is connected to the nucleus from the first. The greater part of 

 the protoplasm drops off (seminal granules) ; the remainder forms 

 the middle piece of the spermatozoon, and contains an attraction 

 sphere. 



FEMALE ORGANS. 



The Ovary is a solid organ composed of fibrous tissue (stroma), 

 containing near its attachment to the broad ligament a number of 

 plain muscular fibres. It is covered with a layer of short columnar 



Fig. 610. Diagrammatic view of the uterus and its appendages, as seen from behind. The 

 uterus and upper part of the vagina have been laid open by removing the posterior 

 wall ; the Fallopian tube, round ligament, and ovarian ligament have been cut short, 

 and the broad ligament removed on the left side ; , the upper part of the uterus ; c, 

 the cervix opposite the os internum ; the triangular shape of the uterine cavity is 

 shown, and the dilatation of the cervical cavity with the rugae termed arbor vitee ; v, 

 upper part of the vagina ; od, Fallopian tube or oviduct ; Hie narrow communication 

 of its cavity with that of the cornu of the uterus on each side is seen ; I, round liga- 

 ment ; lo, ligament of the ovary ; o, ovary ; i, wide outer part of the right Fallopian 

 tube ; /, its fimbriated extremity ; po, parovarium ; h, one of the hydatids frequently 

 found connected with the broad ligament. |. (Allen Thomson.) 



cells (germinal epithelium}, which may be seen, especially in young 

 animals, dipping down into the stroma. The interstitial connective 

 tissue contains a number of epithelial polyhedral yellow cells, 

 like the interstitial cells of the testis. 



When cut across, the surface part of the stroma is seen to be 

 crowded with a number of rounded cells (primitive ova or 

 ovigerms), and vesicles of different sizes are also visible. These 

 are called the Graafian follicles. The smallest are near the sur- 

 face of the organ ; the larger ones are deeper, though they extend 

 to the surface as they grow. 



A Graafian follicle has a proper wall formed from the stroma ; 



