422 ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION 



numerous saccular and tubular glands between the 

 rugae of the arbor vitse, and below, numerous papillae 



The ligaments of the uterus are the round ligaments 

 and several peritoneal folds, namely, two each in front, 

 behind, and laterally. 



The round ligaments are two cord-like bundles of 

 areolar, fibrous, and plain muscular tissue, with 

 vessels and nerves, covered by peritoneum, which 

 run from the upper angle of the uterus to the- internal 

 abdominal ring. Each then runs through the corre- 

 sponding inguinal canal to end in the mons veneris 

 and labia. 



The anterior or vesico-uterine ligaments stretch bet- 

 ween the bladder and the uterus; the posterior, between 

 the uterus and rectum, hence called the recto-uterine, 

 forming a pouch of peritoneum, the cul-de-sac of 

 Douglas. 



The two lateral or broad ligaments pass from the 

 sides of the uterus to the sides of the pelvis, thus 

 dividing the latter into two parts. They are formed 

 by the coalescence of the peritoneal layers investing 

 the anterior and posterior surfaces of the uterus, and 

 contained between the two layers the Fallopian 

 tube at the upper margin ; the round ligament below 

 and in front of the tube; the ovary and its ligament 

 enfolded by the posterior layer; and the uterine 

 bloodvessels, lymphatics, and nerves. 



Appendix. The Function of the Uterus. The uterus 

 receives and affords a surface for the growth and 

 development of the fecundated ovum and its mem- 

 branes, which become the embryo, nourished from the 

 placenta (after the third month), and retains it until 

 the foetus is fully developed (nine months), when, by 

 a contraction of its muscular walls, the offspring is 

 delivered through the vagina. 



The Fallopian Tubes. The Fallopian tubes or ovi- 

 ducts run from the upper angles of the uterus 

 toward the sides of the pelvis, and near their termina- 



