THE SEXUAL ORGANS. 



649 



in the form of longitudinal bundles surrounded by connective tissue, 

 with which at the internal abdominal ring a good many transversely 

 striated muscular fibres, often extending nearly to the uterus, are 

 associated. 



Fig. 267. 



207. Changes in the uterus at the menstrual period and in preg- 

 nancy. At the menstrual period, the whole uterus enlarges, and its 

 texture expands, which is perhaps to be attributed, chiefly, to the dis- 

 tension of the vessels, and the considerable infiltration of the entire 

 organ with blood-plasma ; at all events, beyond a greater facility in the 

 demonstration of its elements. I have been unable to perceive any fur- 

 ther alteration in the muscular coat. The mucous membrane, -on the 

 other hand, in many cases really increases, being thickened to 12, 

 even 3, or, in its projecting folds, even to 56 lines ; it becomes softer 

 and presents, in its tissue, well-marked, easily isolated, utricular glands, 

 18 lines long, and 0'036 0*04 of a line broad, and numerous immature, 

 round and fusiform cells. The bloodvessels of the mucous membrane, 

 which chiefly afford the menstrual flux, are throughout the uterus, and 

 particularly in its body and fundus, extremely numerous and much dis- 

 tended, and this is especially the case 

 with the superficial capillary plexus ; 

 whence also, the mucous membrane 

 presents a bright red color. With the 

 escape of the blood from the superfi-^ 

 cial, ruptured capillaries, the epithe- 

 lium of the mucous membrane is, in 

 great measure, thrown off, except that 

 of the cervix, and may always be found 

 in large quantity in the mucus mixed 

 with blood, which fills the cavity of the 

 uterus ; it is not, however, to be re- 

 garded as normal, if, after the men- 

 strual period, or during it, the whole 

 uterine mucous membrane or portions 

 of it are detached. After the menstrual 

 period, the parts rapidly regain their 

 pristine condition, and the epithelium 

 is restored. 



Changes of a totally different kind 

 are induced in the uterus by preg- 

 nancy, among which, however, in a 

 microscopical point of view, the in- 



FIG. 267. Muscular elements from the uterus, in the fifth month of pregnancy ; a, formative 

 cells of the muscular fibres; 6, younger; c, developed, fibre-cells. Magnified 350 diameters. 



