688 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



Summary-. — -The cortical part of the ovary, with its Graafian folHcles and 

 their contents, is developed from the cell-nests formed by the ovarian ends of 

 the egg-columns or egg-tubes of PflUger, which arise from the germinal epi- 

 thelium of the sex-gland region of the genital ridge. 



The medullary part of the ovary is formed by the ovarian ends of the 

 medullary cords and rete-cords, which are now transformed into a connective- 

 tissue stroma, the latter cords constituting the so-called rete ovarii. The 

 medullary cords have a similar origin to that of the egg-tubes of Pfliiger; 

 and the rete-cords arise from the germinal epithelium of the rete-region of 

 the sex-gland. 



The tunica albuginea of the ovary is developed from the connective tissue 

 derived from ' the basal nuclei of the medullary cords.' 



The columnar epithelium, which covers the surface of the adult ovary, 

 represents the superficial cells of the embryonic germinal epithelium. 



Mesorchium and Mesovarium. — The Wolffian body is attached to the dorsal 

 wall of the body-cavity by a fold of peritoneum, which is spoken of as its 

 'mesentery,' but is really its ligament. -This ligament is prolonged to the 

 diaphragm, under the name of the diaphragmatic ligament, and externally 

 it blends with the uro-genital fold, which contains the Wolffian and Miillerian 

 ducts. From the caudal part of the Wolffian body another fold of peri- 

 toneum, containing connective tissue and plain muscular tissue, extends to 

 the inguinal region. This fold is called the inguinal ligament. 



As the genital ridge, or indifferent sexual organ, which lies on the inner 

 side of the Wolffian body, becomes differentiated into the testis and the 

 ovary, it retains its connection with the Wolffian body, and is attached to 

 the dorsal wall of the body-cavity by a fold of peritoneum, which acts as a 

 suspensory hgament. This fold forms the mesorchium and mesovarium, 

 respectively, and at the level of the caudal part of the Wolffian body it blends 

 with the uro-genital fold, the latter having previously fused with the Mgament 

 (' mesentery ') of the Wolffian body. The sexual gland is retro-peritoneal ; 

 that is to say, it lies behind the peritoneum. 



As the caudal tubules of the Wolffian body become atrophied, the in- 

 guinal ligament acquires a connection with the caudal end of the sexual organ. 

 In the male it constitutes the gubernaculum testis, which is referred to in 

 connection with the descent of the testis. In the female the inguinal liga- 

 ment, as it descends, becomes connected with the Miillerian duct at the level 

 where this duct fuses with its fellow to form the uterus and vagina, and there- 

 after it continues its course to the inguinal region, traversing the inguinal 

 canal, and terminating within the labium majus. The part of the inguinal 

 ligament between the ovary and the uterus forms the ligament of the ovary, 

 and the part which extends from the uterus through the inguinal canal to the 

 labium majus constitutes the round ligament of the uterus. 



The descent of the inguinal ligament through the inguinal canal is preceded, 

 or accompanied, by a small diverticulum of the peritoneum, which lies in front 

 of the inguinal ligament. This diverticulum generally becomes obliterated. 

 In rare cases, however, it remains pervious as a blind diverticulum, communi- 

 cating only with the peritoneal cavity, and known as the canal of Nuck. 



Development of the Epoophoron. — The longitudinal tube, which lies parallel 

 to the Fallopian tube, is a persistent part of the ^^'olffian duct, and repre- 

 sents the canal of the epididymis in the male. In some animals, e.g., the sow, 

 the Wolffian duct remains persistent, and, under the name of the duct or 

 canal of Gartner, can be traced from the broad ligament of the uterus along the 

 side of that organ to the lateral wall of the vagina in its upper part, where 

 it disappears. In the human female it sometimes takes a similar course, and 

 the portion of it on the uterine and vaginal walls is to be regarded as rcpre- 

 sentmg the vas deferens in the male. The transverse tubules of the epoophoron 

 extending from the region of the ovary to the longitudinal tube (so-called 

 duct of Gartner), into which they open at right angles, arc vestiges of the 

 anterior segmental tubes of the Wolffian body, and represent the tubuU recti, 

 rete testis, vasa efferentia, and coni vasculosi of the testis in the male. 



Development of the Paroophoron. — These vestigial tubules arc derived 

 from the more posterior segmental tubes of the Wolffian body, and they 

 represent the paradidymis or organ of Giraldcs in the male. 



