696 



THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS OF THE FEMALE. 



Chemically the cyst contents, when thick and ropy, include mucin or 

 paralbumin, and perhaps other less well-known compounds belonging to 

 the same class. It is probable that the contents of these cysts are, so far 

 as the mucin and paralbumin are concerned, produced by a metamor- 

 phosis of the protoplasm of the lining cells, similar to that by which the 

 muciu is produced in the mucous glands and in mucous membranes. 

 The cylindrical cells often present the form of the so-called "beaker 

 cells," and in some cases the mucous contents of the cysts are seen to be 

 continuous with the similar contents of the beaker cells. It is probable 

 that much of the fluid contents of the cysts comes from simple transu- 

 dation. 



Microscopically the contents of these cysts present also considerable 

 variation. We may find almost no structural elements, or there may be 



FIG. 452. CYSTADENOMA OF THE OVARY PAPILLARY TYPE. 



red blood cells in variable quantity, and leucocytes in various stages 

 of granular or fatty degeneration or of disintegration. There may be 

 cylindrical, or flattened, or polyhedral cells, either well preserved, swol- 

 len, or in a state of fatty degeneration, or fragments of these cells. 

 It is these various forms of cells, often more or less swollen and in a con- 

 dition of more or less well-marked granular and fatty degeneration, which 

 have been considered characteristic of the ovarian cysts and are some- 

 times called Drysdalds corpuscles. While, however, they are of frequent 

 occurrence under these conditions, they are by no means pathognomonic, 

 since we find them in the contents of various kinds of cysts and cavities 

 where the cells are undergoing degeneration. In addition to the above 

 structural elements we may find free fat droplets, cholesterin crystals, 

 pigment granules, and more or less granular detritus. The gelatinous 



