72 THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



Moreaux 1 has investigated the changes undergone in the 

 Fallopian tube of the rabbit. He finds that the epithelial cells 

 discharge a mucous secretion during heat. The discharged eggs 

 become surrounded by a thick mucous envelope. During the periods 

 of rest the cells are inactive. 



The human uterus consists of two parts, the corpus or body of 

 the uterus, and the cervix or neck, which opens into the vagina. 



FIG. 4. Section of a cornu of a rabbit's uterus (diagrammatic). 



s, Serous layer ; Im, longitudinal muscle fibres ; cm, circular muscle fibres ; or, 

 areolar tissue with large blood-vessels ; mm, muscularis mucosse ; in, mucosa. 

 (From Schafer.) 



The body of the uterus contains the following layers, which correspond 

 with those of the Fallopian tubes : (1) A serous layer ; (2) a thick 

 muscular layer, consisting of two (some say three) more or less 

 blended sub-layers ; and (.'>) a still thicker layer, known as the 

 mucous membrane or mucosa (sometimes called the endometrium), 

 which is composed of a connective tissue containing spindle-shaped 

 cells, and is lined by a ciliated epithelium bounding the uterine 

 cavity. The mucosa contains numerous tubular glands, which open 



1 Moreaux, " Recherches sur la Morphologic et la Fonction Glandulaire de 

 1'Epithelium de la Trompe uterine chez les Mammifferes," Arch. cPAnat. Mic., 

 vol. xiv. 



