FALLOPIAN TUBES. 671 



The Fallopian Tubes, (Fig. 211.) These tubes, named 

 after their discoverer, are situated within the fold of the 

 broad ligament, along its superior border. They are two 

 in number, one on each side of the pelvis, and extend 

 from the superior angles of the uterus, transversely to 

 the distance of from four to five inches, where each ter- 

 minates in a free and fringe-like extremity, called corpus 

 fimbriatwn, consisting of several irregular processes. In 

 this course the tubes have the round ligaments in front, 

 and the ovaria, with their ligaments, behind. The uter- 

 ine extremity has a very small orifice, scarcely admit- 

 ting a bristle, while the outer or ovarian end presents a 

 trumpet-mouth as large as a quill, and, with its processes, 

 receives the name of morsus didboli. These processes or 

 fimbrias are in one or more rows, one of which attaches 

 them to the ovary. The Fallopian tubes are straight 

 *at the inner end, but pursue a tortuous course in their 

 outer portion. 



Structure. These tubes have three coats an outer, loose, 

 and serous, and derived from the broad ligaments ; a mid- 

 dle, fibrous, or fibro-muscular coat, having longitudinal 

 fibres externally, and circular internally, continuous with 

 those of the uterus ; and an internal or mucous coat, which 

 is continuous internally with that of the uterus, and exter- 

 nally with the peritoneum, the only instance of direct 

 continuity between a mucous and serous membrane. This 

 mucous coat is thrown into longitudinal folds, admitting 

 of dilatation, and is covered by an epithelium, both ciliated 

 and columnar. Neither orifice of the Fallopian tube, nor 

 any part of its course has any valve. 



Function. The use of these tubes is to transmit the 

 fecundating principle of the male to the ovary, and to con- 

 duct to the uterus the ovum when fecundated. Their use 

 is the same as the oviduct, and it is found that the ovum, 

 in its passage along the Fallopian tube, receives a double 

 envelope an internal layer, of an albuminous or gelatinoui 

 nature, called the amnion, and an external fibrous layer, 

 called the chorion. The time it takes the ovum to traverse 



