THE ABDOMEN 883 



ovarian fimbria is attached to it. Connected with it there is also 

 a fold of peritoneum, which passed upwards to join the peritoneum 

 over the psoas magnus near the upper part of the external iliac 

 vessels. This fold, which is termed the suspensory ligament of the 

 ovary, is continuous with the outer part of the broad Hgament, 

 and contains the ovarian vessels and nerves. The inferior pole 

 is known as the uterine pole, and is connected with the superior 

 angle of the uterus by a round cord, called the ligament of the 

 ovary. The attachment of this ligament to the uterus is behind 

 and a Uttle behw the uterine end of the Fallopian tube. 



The surface of the ovary is covered by peritoneum, continuous with 

 the mesovarium, the only exception being along the anterior border, 

 where the hilmn exists. The connective-tissue element of this 

 peritoneum is inseparably blended with the so-called tunica albu- 

 ginea of the ovary, and it is covered by an epitheUum the cells 

 of which present a striking contrast to those of the endotheUal 

 covering elsewhere. It is composed of short columnar cells, and 

 imparts a somewhat dull appearance to the surface, which con- 

 trasts with the polished appearance elsewhere. The ovarian 

 epithelium is the remains of the germinal epithelium, from which 

 the ovary is developed, and at the circumference of the organ it 

 passes abruptly into the endothelial cells of the adjacent peritonemn. 

 Prior to puberty the surface of the ovary is smooth, but after that 

 period it gradually assumes a pitted and scarred appearance, which 

 is due to the periodical escape of the ova from the Graafian foUicles. 



Descent o! the Ovary. — ^The ovary, like the testis, originally lies in the 

 lumbar region of the body-cavity, by the side of the vertebral column. At 

 this period the inguinal hgament, as stated, extends from the caudal end of 

 the ovary to the inguinal region, where it traverses the inguinal canal and 

 terminates within the labium ma jus. As it descends it becomes connected, 

 as stated, with the MuUerian duct at the level where this duct fuses with its 

 fellow to form the uterus. About the third month of intra-uterine life the 

 ovary begins to descend towards the brim of the pelvis. Having arrived at 

 the pelvic brim, it remains there for some time, and is still at that level at 

 the period of birth. At a later period it descends into the pelvic cavity, as 

 a rule, and assumes its normal position within a backward extension of the 

 broad ligament of the uterus. 



Two factors are probably concerned in the descent of the ovary, namely, 

 (i) the shortening of that part of the inguinal hgament which extends from 

 the ovary to the side of the uterus, close to the uterine end of the Fallopian 

 tube; and (2) the traction exercised by the fusion of the two Miillerian ducts 

 to form the uterus and vagina. 



As each ovary descends, its mesovarium is taken along with it. This 

 mesovarium is intimately connected with the uro-genital fold, which con- 

 tains the Wolffian and Miillerian ducts; and the uro-genital fold, in turn, is 

 combined with the Wolffian ' mesentery ' or ligament. The vestigial portions 

 of the Wolffian body in the female are therefore carried down along with the 

 descending ovary, these vestigial portions representing (i) the so-called duct 

 of Gartner, (2) the epoophoron or parovarium, jind (3) the paroophoron. 

 The combined mesovarium, uro-genital fold, and Wolffian ' mesentery ' or 

 ligament, of each side become continuous mesially, and form one continuous 

 sheet. Within this sheet the uterus is formed by the fusion of the two Miillerian 

 ducts, and each lateral part of the sheet constitutes the broad ligament of the 

 uterus. 



