260 



SPLANCHNOLOGY 



Uterine 

 tube 



below on to the posterior vaginal wall, when it is reflected on to the rectum, 

 forming the rectouterine excavation. It is in relation with the rectum, from 

 which it may be separated by coils of small intestine. 



The vaginal portion (portio vaginalis [cervicis]) of the cervix projects free into the 

 anterior wall of the vagina between the anterior and posterior fornices. On its 

 rounded extremity is a small, depressed, somewhat circular aperture, the external 

 orifice of the uterus, through which the cavity of the cervix communicates with 

 that of the vagina. The external orifice is bounded by two lips, an anterior and a 

 posterior, of which the anterior is the shorter and thicker, although, on account 

 of the slope of the cervix, it projects lower than the posterior. Normally, both lips 

 are in contact with the posterior vaginal wall. 



Interior of the Uterus (Fig. 1167). The cavity of the uterus is small in 

 comparison with the size of the organ. 



The Cavity of the Body (cavum uteri) is a mere slit, flattened antero-posteriorly. 

 It is triangular in shape, the base being formed by the internal surface of the 



fundus between the orifices of the uterine 

 tubes, the apex by the internal orifice of the 

 uterus through which the cavity of the body 

 communicates with the canal of the cervix. 



The Canal of the Cervix (canalis cervicis 

 uteri) is somewhat fusiform, flattened from 

 before backward, and broader at the middle 

 than at either extremity. It communicates 

 above through the internal orifice with the 

 cavity of the body, and below through the 

 external orifice with the vaginal cavity. The 

 wall of the canal presents an anterior and a 

 posterior longitudinal ridge, from each of 

 which proceed a number of small oblique 

 columns, the palmate folds, giving the appear- 

 ance of branches from the stem of a tree; 

 to this arrangement the name arbor vitae 

 uterina is applied. The folds on the two 



walls are not exactly opposed, but fit between one another so as to close the 

 cervical canal. 



The total length of the uterine cavity from the external orifice to the fundus 

 is about 6.25 cm. 



Ligaments. The ligaments of the uterus are eight in number: one anterior; 

 one posterior; two lateral or broad; two.uterosacral; and two round ligaments. 



The anterior ligament consists of the vesicouterine fold of peritoneum, which 

 is reflected on to the bladder from the front of the uterus, at the junction of the 

 cervix and body. 



The posterior ligament consists of the rectovaginal fold of peritoneum, which is 

 reflected from the back of the posterior fornix of the vagina on to the front of the 

 rectum. It forms the bottom of a deep pouch called the rectouterine excavation, 

 which is bounded in front by the posterior wall of the uterus, the supravaginal 

 cervix, and the posterior fornix of the vagina; behind, by the rectum; and laterally 

 by two crescentic folds of peritoneum which pass backward from the cervix uteri 

 on either side of the rectum to the posterior wall of the pelvis. These folds are 

 named the sacrogenital or rectouterine folds. They contain a considerable amount 

 of fibrous tissue and non-striped muscular fibers which are attached to the front 

 of the sacrum and constitute the uterosacral ligaments. 



The two lateral or broad ligaments (ligamentum latum uteri) pass from the sides of 

 the uterus to the lateral walls of the pelvis. Together with the uterus they form 





Internal 



orifice 



External 

 orifice 



FIG. 1167. Posterior half of uterus and upper 

 part of vagina. 



