530 



THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM 



cially in multipart, the stratified squamous epithelium of the vagina is 

 continued for some little distance within the canal of the cervix uteri; 

 it never clothes more than the lower one-half to two-thirds of the cervical 

 canal. The current resulting from the vibration of the intra-uterine 

 cilia is directed toward the vagina. 



The tunica propria of the mucosa consists of a peculiar embryonal 

 type of connective tissue, similar to that of the oviducts, which contains 

 very few collagenous and no elastic fibers, but which is richly supplied, 



FIG. 465. FROM A TRANSECTION OF THE UTERINE MUCOSA. 

 X 16. (After Williams.) 



in fact is literally packed, with cellular elements. These cells are ovoid 

 or fusiform in shape, and many of them are branched ; their nuclei, also, 

 are ovoid and somewhat vesicular. Many lymphocytes are found in the 

 tunica propria, but these mostly occur in the vicinity of the lymphatics 

 and smaller blood-vessels with which the uterine mucosa is abundantly 

 supplied. In the mucosa of the cervix uteri the development of the con- 

 nective tissue appears to be more advanced, the cellular elements being 

 relatively fewer; it also contains many fine fibers which appear to form 

 a delicate network. At the external os uteri the tunica propria is con- 



