568 THE HUMAN BODY 



Between the layers is an extensive vascular network, with many 

 dilated veins or venous sinuses. The muscular coat is lined in- 

 ternally by a ciliated mucous membrane, and is covered externally 

 by the peritoneum, bands of which project from each side of it 

 as the broad ligaments (II, Fig. 153). The outer layer of the mucous 

 membrane presents a very well developed muscularis mucosce, 

 much thicker than the corresponding layer in the gastric or intes- 

 tinal mucous membranes and much less sharply marked off from 

 the true muscular coat outside it. The main thickness of the 

 mucous membrane consists of closely set, simple or slightly 

 branched, tubular glands; between these is a close blood-vascular 



FIG. 153. The uterus, in section, with the right Fallopian tube and ovary, as 

 seen from behind, about I the natural size, u, upper part of uterus; c, cervix; 

 v, upper part of vagina; od, Fallopian tube; fi, its fimbriated extremity; o, ovary; 

 po, parovarium. 



and lymphatic network. The glands open on the interior of the 

 womb; they and the mucous membrane between their mouths are 

 lined by a single layer of columnar ciliated cells, with some gob- 

 let cells between them. In the cervix the glands are shorter, and 

 many of the epithelial cells not ciliated. The viscid mucus se- 

 creted by the uterine glands is alkaline or neutral. 



The vagina is a distensible passage, extending .from the uterus 

 to the exterior; dorsally it rests on the rectum, and ventrally is 

 in contact with the bladder and urethra. It is lined by mucous 

 membrane, the epithelium of which is much like the epidermis 

 but thinner; outside the mucous membrane the vagina is made 

 up of areolar, erectile, and unstriped muscular tissues. Around 



