THE OVARIES 



509 



■?• V 



and a half (ca. 3 to 4 cm.) thick. The weight is about two and a half to three 

 ounces (ca. 70 to 80 grams) . 



Each presents for description two surfaces, two borders, and two extremities 

 or poles. The surfaces are termed internal and external (Facies medialis, lateralis); 

 they are both smooth and rounded.' The attached or mesovarial border (Margo 

 mesovaricus) is convex. It is inclosed in a part of the broad ligament termed the 

 mesovarium; the vessels and nerves reach the gland at this border. The free 

 border (Margo liber) is marked by a notch which leads into a depression, the 

 ovulation fossa. The tubal or anterior extremity (Extremitastubaria) is rounded, 

 and is related to the fimbriated end of the uterine 

 or Fallopian tube. The uterine or posterior ex- 

 tremity (Extremitas uterina) is also round, and is 

 connected with the horn of the uterus by the 

 ovarian ligament. 



The ovaries are situated in the sublumbar region 

 of the abdominal cavity, about a handbreadth be- 

 hind the corresponding kidney. They are in contact 

 with the lumbar wall of the abdomen, and are com- 

 monly about two or three inches (ca. 5 to 7.5 cm.) 

 from the median plane. The distance from the 

 ovaries to the vulvar orifice is about twenty inches 

 (ca. 50 cm.) in a mare of medium size. The at- 

 tached (mesovarial) border is commonly directed 

 toward the median plane, the free border laterally 

 and somewhat ventrally. 



The position of the ovaries is not constant, but is sub- 

 ject to less variation than might be expected from their mode 

 of attachment. The normal variations in the non-pregnant 

 state are chiefly in a transverse direction, and do not usually 

 exceed two or three inches (ca. 5 to 7 cm.). It is not at all 

 rare to find the ovary deflected medially, so that the external 

 surface faces ventrally. In the longitudinal direction little 

 variation appears to occur. The right ovary is usually about 

 four or five inches (ca. 10 to 12 cm.), and the left one about 

 three or four inches (ca. 8 to 10 cm.), behind the correspond- 

 ing kidney. Thus they lie about in a transverse plane tangent 

 to the external angles of the ilia, i. e., through the fifth lumbar 

 vertebra. They may be about two inches (ca. .5 cm.) from the 

 extremity of the corresponding cornu of the uterus or in con- 

 tact with it. The right ovary commonly lies a little (ca. 2. .5 

 cm.) further forward than the left one. Except during preg- 

 nancy, they are normally in contact with the lumbar ab- 

 dominal wall, and do not hang down among the adjacent 

 viscera. 



Fig. 408. — Right Ovary of Mare, 

 WITH Adjacent Structures. 

 The extremity of the cornu 

 uteri is opened. 1, Ovary; S, Fal- 

 lopian tube, with its ostium abdom- 

 inale (2'), fimbria; (2''}, and ostium 

 uterinum {2'"); 3, cornu uteri, with its 

 mucous lining (3'); 4, ovarian liga- 

 ment; 4', mesosalpinx. (After Ell- 

 enVjerger, in I.eisering's Atlas, re- 

 duced.) 



The ovary is attached to the subluml)ar 

 region by the anterior part of the broad liga- 

 ment; this part of the ligament, the mesovarium, 



is about three or four inches (ca. 8 to 10 cm.) wide, measured from the 

 ovary directly to the parietal attachment. The uterine or posterior extremity 

 of the ovary, is connected with the extremity of the cornu of the uterus by 

 the ovarian ligament (Ligamentum ovarii proprium); this is a band of unstriped 

 muscle inclosed between the layers of the broad ligament. 



Structure. — The greater part of the surface of the ovary has a covering of 

 peritoneum. The peritoneal investment is absent at the attached border where 



^ These terms apply properly only when the adjacent viscera are removed and the ovaries 

 are actually "su.spended" by the broad ligaments. When the ovary is in its natural position, 

 the surfaces are dorsal and ventral, the former corresponding to the "external" surface if the 

 free border is directed outward, to the "internal" if the free edge is medial. 



