THE ABDOMEN 88i 



which Hes within a forward projection of the anterior layer of the 

 broad Hgament, also at a lower level than the Fallopian tube ; 

 (4) the epoophoron, which lies within the ligament between the 

 ovary and the Fallopian tube ; and (5-) the paroophoron (in early 

 life), which also hes within the ligament, internal to the epoophoron 

 and near the uterus. The double fold of peritoneum attaching 

 the anterior border of the ovary over its whole length to the back 

 of the broad ligament forms a short mesentery for it, called the 

 mesovarium, which contains between its two layers the blood- 

 vessels and nerves of the ovary. The portion of the broad hga- 

 ment which lies between the FaUopian tube and the ovary with 

 its ligament is called the mesosalpinx. It is somewhat falciform, 

 and is narrow internally, but broad externally. It is bounded 

 above by the Fallopian tube, below by the ovary and its ligament, 

 internally by the uterus, and externally by the ovarian fimbria and 

 the suspensory ligament of the ovary. 



Round Ligament of the Uterus. — ^This is a narrow, cord-like band, 

 about 5 inches long, which is attached to the upper part of the side 

 of the uterus in front of, and a little below, the uterine end of the 

 FaUopian tube. It is composed of fibrous connective tissue, which, 

 near the uterus, has an admixture of plain muscular fibres con- 

 tinuous with those of the uterus. It lies within the anterior layer 

 of the broad ligament, where it gives rise to a slight prominence. 

 Its direction is outwards, upwards, and forwards over the obliterated 

 hypogastric artery and pelvic brim to the internal abdominal ring, 

 close to which it hooks round the outer side of the deep epigastric 

 artery, and crosses the external Uiac vessels from within outwards. 

 Escaping by the internal abdominal ring, it traverses the inguinal 

 canal, and, emerging through the external abdominal ring, it ends 

 in the subcutaneous tissue of the labium majus. For a short distance 

 after entering the inguinal canal it is covered by a process of the 

 peritoneum, which represents the processus vaginahs in the male 

 foetus. This process is at first tubular, and receives the name of the 

 canal of Nuck. It is usually, however, obhterated in the adult, though 

 it may remain pervious, imder which circumstances the condition 

 known as hydrocele of the roimd ligament may occur. A few mus- 

 cular fibres may be found in front of the round ligament in the 

 inguinal canal, which are continuous with the lower fibres of the 

 internal obhque, and represent the cremaster in the male. 



The round ligament is supplied by two arteries as follows : the 

 ligamentous branch of the ovarian artery, which supplies it as far 

 as the inguinal canal ; and the hgamentous branch of the deep 

 epigastric, which suppUes it beyond the internal abdominal ring, 

 and corresponds to the cremasteric artery in the male. The 

 principal venous blood is returned by a ligamentous vein, which is 

 a tributary of the ovarian plexus. 



The round ligament represents the gubemaculum testis in the 

 male. 



Ovaries. — The ovaries are two small flattened bodies, each of 



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