686 THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF THE FEMALE. 



Cysts. Aside from the cysts which develop in tumors of the uterus, 

 the mucous follicles in the cervix uteri are frequently so dilated as to 

 form cysts filled with a gelatinous material and more or less epithelium. 

 These cysts may be large or small, and are frequently called ovula Nabothi 

 (Fig. 426) . Sometimes there is an inflammatory growth of new connective 

 tissue about these cysts. In other cases the cysts may project from the 

 mucous membrane in the form of polypi. Similar changes are infrequent- 

 ly found in the body of the uterus from the dilatation of occluded uterine 

 glands. Derinoid cysts are rarely found in the walls of the uterus. 



Lesions of the Placenta. 1 



Aside from the variations from the normal in size, shape, and posi- 

 tion, for a description of which we refer to the works on obstetrics, we 

 may briefly mention here some of the more important structural changes 

 which the placenta may undergo. 



DEGENERATION. 



Fatty and amyloid degeneration and calcification of the placental tissue 

 are of not infrequent occurrence. 



HAEMORRHAGE. 



This may occur either on the maternal surface in the decidua, or 

 between the foetal surface and the membranes, or in the substance of the 

 placenta. The latter form of haemorrhage constitutes the true placental 

 apoplexy. This may occur as the result of rupture of a placental sinus. 

 The placental tissue is crowded apart, and a blood clot, often infiltrating 

 the parenchyma, is formed. This may lead to abortion, or the blood 

 may undergo disintegration and absorption and its place be occupied by 

 a cicatrix. The placental tissue in its vicinity may undergo fatty degen- 

 eration. Under other conditions, without evidence of rupture of the 

 vessels, the placental tissue may become infiltrated with blood in the 

 form of an infarction. In this, degenerative changes similar to the above 

 may occur, leading to fibrous induration of the placenta. 



The so-called "infarctions" of the placenta vary in size, appearance, 

 structure, and origin. They are most frequently due, according to 

 Williams, to an endarteritis of the vessels of the chorionic villi. They 

 appear to be of little significance when of moderate size. 3 



INFLAMMATION. (Placentitis.) 



Suppurative Inflammation of the placenta, with the formation of ab- 

 scesses, is of rare occurrence as the result of injury. 



1 For a study of the placenta, normal and pathological, see Eden, Journal of Path 

 and Bact, vol. iii., p. 449, 1896, and vol. iv., p. 265, 1897, bibliography. 



2 For a study of placental infarcts see Williams, " Welch Anniversary Contr. to 

 the Science of Medicine," 1900, p. 431, bibliography. 



