714 



CORPUS LUTEUM. 



233. 



GRAAFIAN FOLLICLE 

 of the human ovary; re- 

 cently ruptured during 

 mestruation, and filled with 

 coagulated blood ; longitu- 

 dinal section. a. Tissue of 

 the ovary, containing un- 

 ruptured Graaflan follicles. 

 b. Vesicular membrane of 

 the ruptured follicle, c. 

 Point of rupture. 



through this opening, passes directly into the cavity of the Graafian 

 follicle. If the follicle be opened at this time by a longitudinal incision 

 through the substance of the ovary (Fig. 233), 

 it will be seen to form a globular cavity, between 

 one and two centimetres in diameter, containing 

 a soft, recent, dark-colored coagulum. The co- 

 agulum has no organic connection with the walls 

 of the follicle, but lies loose in its cavity, and 

 may be easily turned .out with the handle of a 

 knife. There is sometimes a slight mechanical 

 adhesion of the clot to the edges of the lacerated 

 opening ; but there is no continuity of substance 

 between them, and the clot may be separated by 

 careful manipulation. The membrane of the 

 vesicle presents at this time a smooth, trans- 

 parent, and vascular internal surface. 



An important change soon afterward begins 

 to take place, both in the central coagulum and 

 in the vesicular membrane. 



The clot, which is at first large, soft, and 

 gelatinous, begins to contract; and the serum 

 separates from the coagulum proper. The serum, 

 as it separates, is absorbed by the neighboring 

 parts; and the clot, accordingly, grows smaller and denser than before. 

 At the same time the coloring matter of the blood undergoes the usual 

 changes which occur in it after extravasation, and is partially reab- 

 sorbed together with the serum. This second change is somewhat less 

 rapid than the former, but a diminution of color is very perceptible in 

 the clot, at the expiration of two weeks from the rupture of the follicle. 

 The vesicular membrane during this time is beginning to undergo a 

 process of development, by which it becomes thickened and convoluted, 

 and tends partially to fill the cavity of the follicle. The hypertrophy 

 and convolution of the vesicular membrane commences first and pro- 

 ceeds most rapidly at the deeper part of the follicle, opposite the situa- 

 tion of the rupture. From this point, the membrane becomes thinner 

 and less convoluted as it approaches the surface of the ovary and the 

 edges of the ruptured orifice. 



At the end of three weeks, the hypertrophy of the vesicular mem- 

 brane has reached its maximum. The ruptured Graafian follicle has 

 now become so completely solidified by the growth above described, 

 and by the condensation of its clot, that it presents the appearance of 

 a new bod} r imbedded in the ovarian tissue, and receives the name of 

 corpus luteum, although its yellow color is not yet distinctly developed. 

 It forms a perceptible prominence on the surface of the ovary, and may 

 be felt as a well-defined rounded tumor, nearly always somewhat flat- 

 tened from side to side. It measures about 19 millimetres in length 



