DEEP ABSORBENTS OF THE PELVIS. 297 



The absorbents of the Urinary Bladder are also numerous, 

 and pass in several trunks from its sides to the hypogastric 

 glands. Those of the prostate gland and vesiculae seminales 

 are associated with them. ^ 



The absorbents of the lower part of the vagina accompany 

 the round ligament of the uterus through the abdominal canal, 

 and, finally anastomose with those of the uterus. * Those of the 

 upper portion of the vagina are immediately associated with 

 such as belong to the uterus. 



The absorbents of the uterus are not so well seen in the un- 

 impregnated state, but in impregnation they are so prodigious- 

 ly numerous, that when injected with quicksilver, one is al- 

 most tempted to suppose that the uterus consists entirely of 

 them. Mascagni's plate on this subject is an exquisite speci- 

 men.* As they all terminate in the hypogatric trunks, the 

 latter are in such case as large as goose-quills.f 



The hypogastric plexus, from these several accessions from 

 the parietes and viscera of thj; pelvis, becomes very numerous, 

 and follows the course of the hypogastric artery in ascending 

 into the loins. 



There are likewise some spermatic absorbents in the female, 

 called so from attending the vessels of the same name. They 

 come from the ovarium, the Fallopian tube, and the round liga- 

 ment, to terminate in the lumbar glands; they anastomose be- 

 low with those of the uterus. 



Of the Glands of the Pelvis. 



Some few glands lie beneath the gluteus maximus muscle, 

 but the majority are within the pelvis. Those which are called 

 the External Iliac are at least six, frequently more, and extend 

 from Poupart's Ligament to the lower part of the loins, being 

 planted along the external iliac artery, both above and below. 

 The Hypogastric or Internal Iliac Glands are rather more nu- 

 merous than the others, and form a chain along the hypogastric 

 artery. The latter are much disposed to form large indurated 

 masses from diseases of the rectum, uterus, and bladder.^ 



* Loe. cit, f Cruikshank, loc. cit. \ Cruikshank, loc. cit, 



