THE OVARIES 



1255 



fibers. The lateral surface is in contact with the parietal peritoneum, which lines 

 the ovarian fossa; the medial surface is to a large extent covered by the fimbriated 

 extremity of the uterine tube. The mesovarian border is straight and is directed 

 toward the obliterated umbilical artery, and is attached to the back of the broad 

 ligament by a short fold named the mesovarium. Between the two layers of this 

 fold the bloodvessels and nerves pass to reach the hilum of the ovary. The free 

 border is convex, and is directed toward the ureter. The uterine tube arches over 

 the ovary, running upward in relation to its mesovarian border, then curving over 

 its tubal pole, and finally passing downward on its free border and medial surface. 



FIG. 1162. Adult ovary, epoophoron, and uterine tube. (From Farre, after I^belt.) a, a. Epoophoron formed 

 from the upper part of the Wolffian body. 6. Remains of the uppermost tubes sometimes forming hydatids. c . Middle 

 set of tubes, d. Some lower atrophied tubes, e. Atrophied remains of the Wolffian duct. /. The terminal bulb or 

 hydatid. h. The uterine tube. t. Hydatid attached to the extremity. I. The ovary. 



Epoophoron (parovariwn; organ of Rosenmuller} (Figs. 1161, 1162). The 

 epoophoron lies in the mesosalpinx between the ovary and the uterine tube, and 

 consists of a few short tubules (ductuli transversi) which converge toward the ovary 

 while their opposite ends open into a 

 rudimentary duct, the ductus longitu- 

 dinalis epobphori (duct of Gartner) . 



Paroophoron. The paroophoron 

 consists of a few scattered rudimen- 

 tary tubules, best seen in the child, 

 situated in the broad ligament be- 

 tween the epoophoron and the uterus. 



The ductuli transversi of the epo- 

 ophoron and the tubules of the paro- 

 ophoron are remnants of the tubules 

 of the Wolffian body or mesonephros; 

 the ductus longitudinalis epoophori is a 

 persistent portion of the Wolffian duct. 



In the fetus the ovaries are situ- 

 ated, like the testes, in the lumbar 

 region, near the kidneys, but they 

 gradually descend into the pelvis (page 

 1211). 



Structure (Fig. 1163). The surface of the ovary is covered by a layer of columnar cells which 

 constitutes the germinal epithelium of Waldeyer. This epithelium gives to the ovary a dull 

 gray color as compared with the shining smoothness of the peritoneum; and the transition be- 

 tween the squamous epithelium of the peritoneum and the columnar cells which cover the 

 ovary is usually marked by a line around the anterior border of the ovary. The ovary consists 

 of a number of vesicular ovarian follicles imbedded in the meshes of a stroma or frame-work. 



FIG. 1163. Section of the ovary. (After Schron.) 1. 

 Outer covering. 1'. Attached border. 2. Central stroma. 

 3. Peripheral stroma. 4. Bloodvessels. 5. Vesicular follicles 

 in their earliest stage. 6, 7, 8. More advanced follicles. 9. 

 An almost mature follicle. 9'. Follicle from which the ovum 

 has escaped. 10. Corpus luteum. 





