PASSAGE OF OVA INTO THE FALLOPIAN TUBES. 297 



ova are carried to the openings of the tubes by ciliary cur- 

 rents. Neither of these theories is capable of actual demon- 

 stration ; and we can only judge of their probable correctness 

 from anatomical facts. Rouget, an earnest advocate of the 

 first-mentioned theory, has given an exact description of the 

 muscular structures connected with the tubes and ovaries. 

 "\\ r e have already seen that one of the fimbrise of the tube is 

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

 the ovary. The other fimbrise are unattached, and are dis- 

 tant from about half an inch to an inch from the ovarian sur- 

 face. According to this observer, there is a double layer of 

 muscular fibres, passing from the lumbar region of the uterus 

 and embracing the whole of the dilated portion of the tube ; 

 and the action of these fibres must draw the extremity of the 

 tube toward the ovary and apply it to its surface. 1 That the 

 muscular fibres described by Rouget exist, there can be 

 scarcely a doubt ; but that their action is essential to the pas- 

 sage of ova into the Fallopian tubes, is a question for discus- 

 sion. If we could assume with certainty that the ova are dis- 

 charged only during sexual intercourse, or that follicles are 

 usually ruptured as a consequence of pressure exerted by the 

 muscular action described by Rouget, this theory would be 

 rendered exceedingly probable, to say the least ; but the facts 

 do not admit of this exclusive view. However, observations 

 upon the lower animals, particularly rabbits, have shown that 

 copulation actually hastens the discharge of ova from ripe 

 Graafian follicles ; but it must be a question of theory sim- 

 ply, whether the act be attended with the muscular contrac- 

 tion indicated by Eouget, or whether there be a determina- 

 tion of blood to the ovary, which produces an additional 

 tendency to rupture at this time. ~We can hardly adopt unre- 

 servedly the theory of Rouget, unless it be evident that there 

 is no other, way in which the ova can enter the tubes. The 



1 ROUGET, Recherches sur les organes erectiles de la femme, et sur Vappareil 

 musculaire tubo-ovaricn, dans leurs rapports avec Vovulation et la menstruation. 

 Journal de !a physiofagie, Paris, 1858, tomei., p. 743. 



