890 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



of the utero-vesical pouch are tisually regarded as the anterior 

 uterine ligaments, but they may also be looked upon as the posterior 

 false ligaments of the bladder. The true ligaments are similar in 

 both sexes. 



Ureters. — Each ureter lies for a short distance on the side of the 

 cervix uteri and upper part of the wall of the vagina, being crossed 

 near the cervix by the uterine artery. 



Urethra. — ^The urethra is very closely related to the anterior 

 wall of the vagina. Its length is i^- inches, and its transverse 

 diameter is about ^ inch, the narrowest part being at the 

 meatus urinarius. The direction of the canal is downwards and 

 forwards, and its walls are anterior and posterior, these being in 

 contact except during micturition. In its course it passes 

 between the two layers of the triangular ligament, where it is 

 embraced by the compressor urethrae muscle. The canal is 

 capable of considerable distension, and may, under anaesthetics, 

 admit the index-finger. The meatus urinarius is situated at the 

 posterior extremity of the vestibule in the middle line, immedi- 

 ately in front of the external orifice of the vagina, and is placed 

 on a slight prominence, the margins of which are somewhat 

 inegular. 



For the structure and development of the urethra, see p. 870. 



Rectum — Relations — Anterior. — The uterus and vagina, the 

 recto-vaginal pouch of Douglas intervening for a short distance 

 in the vicinity of the cervix uteri. Posterior. — As in the 

 male. 



Anal Canal. — ^This is separated from the vagina by the perineal 

 body. 



Ovarian Artery in the Pelvis. — ^This vessel, which arises from the 

 abdominal aorta about i inch below the renal artery, enters the 

 pelvis by crossing the commencement of the external iliac. It 

 then passes within the broad ligament of the uterus, where it is 

 very tortuous, and its branches to the ovary enter that organ 

 through the hilum on the anterior border without piercing the 

 peritoneum. Besides supplying the ovary the vessel furnishes the 

 following branches : uterine to the uterus, near the superior angle, 

 where it anastomoses with branches of the uterine artery from the 

 internal iliac ; tubal to the Fallopian tube ; and ligamentous to 

 the round ligament of the uterus, which accompanies it as far as 

 the inguinal canal. 



The ovarian vein of each side originates as two vessels in the 

 ovarian or pampiniform plexus, which lies within the broad liga- 

 ment. This plexus receives the veins which emerge through the 

 hilum of the ovary, as well as tributaries from the Fallopian tube 

 and round ligament of the uterus, and it communicates freely with 

 the uterine plexus. The two ovarian veins, having emerged from 

 the ovarian plexus, leave the pelvis, and soon join to form a single 

 vein, that of the right side opening into the inferior vena cava, 

 and that of the left side into the left renal vein. 



