118 FEMALE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 



for an inch, until they reach the size of a writing-quill; they 

 then contract again somewhat, and immediately afterwards ex- 

 pand into a broad trumpet-shaped mouth. The latter has an 

 oblique orifice, the edge of which is extremely irregular, by 

 being resolved into a number of ragged fringe-like processes, 

 of unequal size and length; and which, as a whole, are called 

 Corpus Fimbriatum, or Morsus Diaboli. One of the longest 

 of these processes adheres* to the external end of the ova- 

 rium. 



The Fallopian tube is covered by the peritoneum, and con- 

 sists of two coats : the external is fibrous, and bears sufficient 

 resemblance to the structure of the uterus to be considered a 

 continuation of it; the internal is mucous, and is likewise a con- 

 tinuation of the corresponding one of the uterus. The external 

 end of the tube, which is called Pavilion by the French anato- 

 mists, is flaccid, thin, and generally in a collapsed state, as it is 

 formed solely by the mucous membrane, assisted by the perito- 

 neum, either of which furnishes resistance sufficient to keep it 

 expanded; but, as many blood vessels enter into its composition, 

 their turgescence, in sexual excitement, probably communicates 

 a. certain degree of erection. 



Of the Ovaries. 



The Ovaries, (Ovaria, Testes Muliebres,} two in number, one 

 on either side, are situated on the posterior face of the broad li- 

 gaments by a duplicature of which they are surrounded, and 

 are twelve or fifteen "lines below the Fallopian tubes. Their 

 shape is that of a compressed ovoid, about half the size of the 

 male testicle: their long diameter is horizontal; they are sus- 

 pended from the broad ligament rather by the edge than by the 

 flat surface, so that they project, and are to a considerable de- 

 gree pendulous. Their distance from the uterus varies from an 

 inch to an inch and a half, and from the internal end of each one 

 there proceeds a small vascular fibrous chord, the Ligament of 

 the Ovarium, which is inserted into the uterus, somewhat below 

 the origin of the Fallopian tube. 



From their being the seat of conception, they have, in the 

 youthful and healthy female, a pliancy and succulency, indica- 



