SPLANCHNOLOGY 



THE FEMALE GENITAL ORGANS (ORGANA GENITALIA MULIEBRIA). 



The female genital organs consist of an internal and an external group. The 

 internal organs are situated within the pelvis, and consist of the ovaries, the uterine 

 tubes, the uterus, and the vagina. The external organs are placed below the urogenital 

 diaphragm and below and in front of the pubic arch. They comprise the mons 

 pubis, the labia majora et minora pudendi, the clitoris, the bulbus vestibuli, and the 

 greater vestibular glands. 



The Ovaries (Ovaria). 



The ovaries are homologous with the testes in the male. They are two nodular 

 bodies, situated one on either side of the uterus in relation to the lateral wall of 

 the pelvis, and attached to the back of the broad ligament of the uterus, behind 

 and below the uterine tubes (Fig. 1161). The ovaries are of a grayish-pink color, 

 and present either a smooth or a puckered uneven surface. They are each about 

 4 cm. in length, 2 cm. in width, and about 8 mm. in thickness, and weigh from 2 



Epoophoron 



Ligament of ovary 



Ovarian finibria 

 Ovarian 



External uterine orifice 



FIG. 1161. Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind. The broad ligament has been spread out and the 



ovary drawn downward. 



to 3.5 gm. Each ovary presents a lateral and a medial surface, an upper or tubal 

 and a lower or uterine extremity, and an anterior or mesovarion and a posterior 

 free border. It lies in a shallow depression, named the ovarian fossa, on the lateral 

 wall of the pelvis; this fossa is bounded above by the external iliac vessels, in front 

 by the obliterated umbilical artery, and behind by the ureter. The exact position 

 of the ovary has been the subject of considerable difference of opinion, and the 

 description here given applies to the ovary of the nulliparous w r oman. The ovary 

 becomes displaced during the first pregnancy, and probably never again returns 

 to its original position. In the erect posture the long axis of the ovary is vertical. 

 The tubal extremity is near the external iliac vein ; to it are attached the ovarian 

 fimbria of the uterine tube and a fold of peritoneum, the suspensory ligament of 

 the ovary, which is directed upward over the iliac vessels and contains the ovarian 

 vessels. The uterine end is directed downward toward the pelvic floor, it is usually 

 narrower than the tubal, and is attached to the lateral angle of the uterus, immedi- 

 ately behind the uterine tube, by a rounded cord termed the ligament of the ovary, 

 which lies within the broad ligament and contains some non-striped muscular 



