FEMALE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 859 



"We are now prepared to study Fig. 270, which shows the general arrangement of 

 these parts, viewed from behind. A portion of the figure which, in the original, shows 

 the external parts, is cut off, to avoid complicating our description. A careful examina- 

 tion of Fig. 270 will give a general idea of the relations of the different parts and enable 

 us to study intelligently their minute anatomy. 



The Ovaries. The situation of these bodies has already been indicated. Attached, 

 as they are, to the broad ligament, and projecting from its posterior surface, they lie 

 nearly horizontally in the pelvic cavity, on either side of the uterus. They are of a 

 whitish color, and their form is ovoid and flattened, with the anterior border, sometimes 

 called the base, attached to the broad ligament. If we closely examine their mode of 

 connection with the broad ligament, it is seen that, at the margin of the attached surface 

 of the ovary, the posterior layer of the ligament ceases, and that the fibrous stroma of 

 the medullary portion of the ovary is continuous with the fibrous tissue lying between 

 the two layers. It is at this portion of the ovary, called the hilum, that the vessels pene- 

 trate, to be distributed in its substance. 



Each ovary is about an inch and a half in length, half an inch in thickness, and three- 

 quarters of an inch in width at its broadest portion. The outer extremity is somewhat 

 rounded and is attached to one of the fimbrias of the Fallopian tube. The inner extremi- 

 ty is more pointed and is attached to the side of the uterus by means of the ligament of 

 the ovary. This ligament is shown in Fig. 270 (7, 7). It is a rounded cord, composed 

 of non-striated muscular fibres spread out upon the attached extremity of the ovary and 

 the posterior surface of the uterus, and is covered by peritoneum. The weight of each 

 ovary is from sixty to one hundred grains, and these organs are largest in the adult virgin. 

 Its attached border is called the hilum; and, at this portion, the vessels and nerves pene- 

 trate. The surface is marked by rounded, translucent elevations, produced by distended 

 Graafian follicles ; and we frequently see here little cicatrices, indicating the situation of 

 ruptured follicles. We may also see, between the distended follicles, corpora lutea in 

 various stages of atrophy. 



Within the last few years, anatomical researches have shown that the surface of the 

 ovaries does not present the appearance of a continuation of the peritoneum. At the 

 base, is a distinct line, surrounding the hilum, which indicates where the peritoneum 

 ceases and where the proper epithelial covering of the ovary begins; and there is a well- 

 marked and abrupt distinction between the tessellated epithelium of the serous surface 

 and the layer of cylindrical cells covering the ovary itself. This peculiarity has led 

 to the idea that the ovary is really covered by a mucous membrane. Indeed, there 

 seems to be little difference between the cells covering the ovaries and those lining the 

 Fallopian tubes, except that the latter are provided with cilia. 



Most anatomists describe a proper fibrous membrane investing the ovaries, which 

 they call the tunica albuginea, and which is compared to the fibrous covering of the 

 testes. This, however, is not a proper term. Sappey denies the existence of a tunica 

 albuginea; and, indeed, in the sense in which it was formerly described, such a membrane 

 cannot be demonstrated. On making a section of the ovary, it is readily seen by the 

 naked eye that the organ is composed of two distinct structures ; a cortical substance, 

 formerly called the tunica albuginea, which is about -fa of an inch in thickness, and a 

 medullary substance, containing a large number of blood-vessels. The cortical substance 

 alone contains the Graafian follicles. The external layer of this may be a little denser 

 than the deeper portion, but there is no distinct fibrous membrane. 



The structure of the cortical substance of the ovary is very simple. It consists of con- 

 nective tissue in several layers, the fibres of which are continuous with the looser fibres 

 of the medullary portion. In the substance of this layer, are embedded the ova, enclosed 

 in the sacs called Graafian follicles. This layer contains a few blood-vessels, coming 

 from the medullary portion, which surround the follicles. 



