286 GENEEATION. 



gradually increasing in size, so that they are rather trumpet- 

 shaped. Near the ovary, they turn downward and back- 

 ward. The extremity next the ovary is marked by from ten 

 to fifteen fimbrise, or fringes, which has given this the name 

 of the fimbriated extremity, or morsus diaboli. All of these 

 fringe-like processes are free, except one ; and this one, which 

 is longer than the others, is attached to the outer angle of the 

 ovary, and presents a little gutter, or furrow, extending from 

 the ovary to the opening of the tube. At this extremity, is 

 the abdominal opening of the tube, which is two or three 

 times as large as the uterine opening. Passing from the 

 uterus, the caliber of the tube gradually increases as the tube 

 itself enlarges, and there is an abrupt congtriction at the ab- 

 dominal opening. 



Beneath the peritoneal coat, which is formed by the layers 

 of the broad ligament, is a layer of connective tissue, con- 

 taining a rich plexus of blood-vessels. This constitutes the 

 proper fibrous coat of the Fallopian tubes. 



The muscular layer is composed mainly of circular fibres, 

 of the non-striated variety, with a few longitudinal fibres 

 prolonged over the tube from the external muscular layer of 

 the uterus. This coat is quite thick, and sends bands be- 

 tween the layers of the broad ligament to the ovary, which 

 are supposed to act in adapting the fimbriated extremity of 

 the tube to the surface of the ovary. 



The mucous membrane of the tube is thrown into folds, 

 which are longitudinal and transverse near the uterus, and 

 are more complicated at the dilated portion. In this portion, 

 next the ovary, embracing about the outer two-thirds, the folds 

 project far into the caliber of the tube. These are sometimes 

 simple, but more frequently they present secondary folds, 

 often meeting as they project from opposite sides. This ar- 

 rangement gives an arborescent appearance to the membrane 

 on transverse section of the tube. The mucous membrane is 

 covered by cylindrical ciliated epithelium, the movement of 

 the cilia being from the ovary toward the uterus. At the 



