THE FALLOPIAN TUBES. 285 



ductions from the presence, in this portion of the uterus, 0f 

 a true erectile tissue. 1 This question will be considered more 

 fully under the head of the mechanism of fecundation. 



In the muscular structure of the uterus, are numerous 

 large veins, the walls of which are closely adherent to the 

 uterine tissue. During gestation, these vessels become en- 

 larged, forming the so-called uterine sinuses. 



Lymphatics are not very numerous in the unimpregnated 

 uterus, but they become largely developed during gestation. 

 They exist in a superficial and a deep layer, the deeper vessels 

 coming from the muscular substance, and probably also from 

 the mucous membrane. 2 



The uterine nerves are derived from the inferior hypo- 

 gastric and the spermatic plexuses, and the third and fourth 

 fca-jral. In the substance of the uterus, they present small 

 collections of ganglionic cells, which were described by Dr. 

 Robert Lee, in 1839. 3 According to Frankenhaeuser, they 

 pass finally to the nucleoli of the muscular fibres. 4 



The Fallopian Tubes. The Fallopian tubes, or oviducts, 

 lead from the ovaries to the uterus. They are shown in Fig. 

 24, one being applied, by its fimbriated extremity, to the 

 ovary. These tubes are from three to four inches long, but 

 the length is not always equal upon the two sides. They lie 

 between the folds of the broad ligament at its upper border. 

 Opening into the uterus upon either side at the cornua, they 

 present a small orifice, about -% of an inch in diameter. From 

 the cornua, they take a somewhat undulatory course outward, 



1 WERNICH, Ueber die ErectionsfdhigJcdt des unteren Uterusabschittes und 

 ihre Bedeutung, Betrdge zur Geburtshulfe und Gyndkologie, Berlin, 1872, Bd. 

 i., S. 296, et seq. 



8 A very elaborate article upon the lymphatics of the unimpregnated uterus 

 has lately been published by Dr. Leopold, of Leipzig, which contains many new 

 points of considerable anatomical interest. (LEOPOLD, Die Lymphgefasse des nor- 

 malen, nickt schwangeren Uterus. Archiv fur Gynaekologie, Berlin, 1873, Bd. 

 vi., S. 1, et seq.) 



8 LEE, Memoir on the Ganglia and Nerves of the Uterus, London, 1839. 



4 FRANKENHAEUSER, Die Nerven der Gebaermutter, Jena, 1867, S. 76, Taf. viii. 



