THE INTERNAL ORGANS OF REPRODUCTION 423 



tion bend downward, backward, and inward. They 

 are 3 to 4 inches long, are at first narrow, then enlarge 

 near the extremity (ampulla), and end in a fimbriated 

 margin, one of the fimbrise being attached to the 

 ovary. The canal is very narrow at the uterine end 

 (ostium uterinum), begins to widen in the outer half 

 to form the ampulla, and at its termination again 

 narrows (ostium abdomiriale) . 



The tubes consist of a peritoneal coat, a muscular 

 coat composed of internal circular and external longi- 

 tudinal fibers, and a mucous coat. The latter is con- 

 tinuous at the inner aspect of the tube with the mem- 

 brane of the uterus, where it opens; and at the outer 

 extremity is continuous with the peritoneum and 

 communicates with the peritoneal cavity. The 

 epithelium is of the ciliated columnar variety, and is 

 thrown into longitudinal folds, more marked in the 

 outer half of the tube. 



The Ovaries. The ovaries correspond to the 

 testicles in the male, as far as the sex relation 

 is concerned, and produce the ovum or germ cell. 

 They are flattened, oval bodjes, measuring 1^ inches 

 long, f inch wide, and ^ inch thick; each weigh 

 60 to 100 grains. They are located in the ab- 

 dominal cavity on either side of the uterus, lodged 

 in the folds of peritoneum called the broad ligaments 

 of the uterus. The sides of each one and the convex 

 border are free, while the straight border is attached 

 to the broad ligament and receives the bloodvessels, 

 etc., at this point. 



Its outer end is attached to the Fallopian tube by 

 the fimbria ovarica, its inner end to the uterus by 

 the ligament of the ovary, a dense, fibromuscular cord 

 attached to the uterus below and behind to the tube. 



The Structure of the Ovary. It consists of an external 

 thin connective-tissue membrane, and an internal thin 

 connective-tissue stroma, which supports the blood- 

 vessels, nerves, and non-striated muscle fibers, and 



