DISCHARGE OF FCETUS AND PLACENTA. 



767 



MUSCULAR FIBRES OF THE UNIMPREG- 

 NATED HUMAN UTERUS; from a woman aged 

 40, dead of phthisis pulmonaiis. 



Fig. 278. 



delivery it may be seen to ter- Fig. 277. 



minate at the os intern um by 

 an uneven, lacerated edge, 

 where it was formerly contin- 

 uous with the decidua vera. 



Subsequent!}', a regeneration 

 of the mucous membrane takes 

 place over the whole extent of 

 the body of the uterus. The 

 mucous membrane of new for- 

 mation, which is already in 

 existence at the time of de- 

 livery, becomes thickened and 

 vascular ; and glandular tu- 

 bules are gradually developed 

 in its substance. At the end of 

 two months after delivery, ac- 

 cording to Longet 1 and Heschl, 2 

 it has regained the natural 

 structure of uterine mucous 

 membrane. It unites at the os 

 interum, by a linear cicatrix, 

 with the mucous membrane of 

 the cervix, and the traces of 

 laceration at this spot after- 

 ward cease to be visible. At 

 the point, however, where the 

 placenta was attached, the re- 

 generation of the mucous mem- 

 brane is less rapid ; and a cica- 

 trix-like spot is often visible 

 at this situation for several 

 months after delivery. 



The corresponding change 

 in the muscular tissue of the 

 uterus consists in the fatty de- 

 generation of its fibres. The 



muscular fibres of the unimpregnated uterus are pale, flattened, spindle- 

 shaped bodies (Fig. 277), homogeneous or faintly granular in appear- 

 ance, and measuring about 50 mmm. in length. During gestation these 

 fibres increase considerably in size. Their texture becomes more dis- 

 tinctly granular, and their outlines more strongly marked. An oval 

 nucleus also shows itself in the central part of each fibre. The entire 



MUSCULAR FIBRES OF THE HUM. 

 RUS, ten days after parturition; from f 

 dead of puerperal fever. 



UTE- 

 woman 



1 Traitfc de Physiologic. Paris, 1850, G6n6ration, p. 173. 



2 Zeitschrift der K. K. Gesellschaft der Aerzte, in Wien, 1852. 



