

THE FEMALE GENERATIVE ORGANS 197 



THE FEMALE GENERATIVE ORGANS 



THE VAGINA AND UTERUS 



The walls of the vagina are lined with a mucous membrane, 

 covered with a thick, stratified squamous epithelium, beneath which 

 are numerous papillae. The submucous, unstriated muscular, and 

 fibrous adventitious coats are not well defined. Glands are not 

 present. 



The uterus has mucous, muscular, and serous layers, but the 

 muscular layer is much the thickest. The muscle is unstriated. 

 The fibers increase both in size and number during pregnancy. 

 The mucous membrane is covered with a single layer of columnar, 

 ciliated epithelial cells, which create a current in the direction of 

 the cervix. Numerous tubular glands, lined with similar cells, 

 extend down to the muscular layer. During menstruation the 

 mucous membrane, having become thickened, soft, and distended 

 with blood, undergoes disintegration in its outer portion, which is 

 cast off. Accompanying this phenomenon there is an escape of 

 blood from the capillaries. The epithelium is quickly renewed 

 from the deeper portions of the glands of the mucous membrane. 



PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION 



From the body of a (preferably young) human female, as soon as possi-" 

 ble after death, remove centimeter cubes of the organs required, observing 

 that the lining is included. The outer portions are of very little moment 

 comparatively. Secure pieces from the os, cervix, and fundus of the uterus, 

 and the wall of the vagina. 



The vagina and uterus of a human subject should be secured, because 

 their structure differs considerably from that of the same organs in the lower 

 animals. The differences are greater than is the case with many of the 

 organs hitherto studied. 



We desire to prepare the tissue so as to keep the original form of cell- 

 elements to avoid contraction and Miiller's fluid will accomplish this per- 

 fectly. Allow the pieces to remain for a month in the bichromate solution, 

 with an occasional change. Complete the hardening in alcohol, after washing 

 as usual. Infiltrate with celloidin, and let the sections be vertical to the 

 mucous surface. The tissues should not be handled with the fingers ; other- 

 wise the epithelial lining cells will be detached. Stain with haematoxylin and 

 eosin; mount in balsam. 



