CHAPTER XX. 



FEMALE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 



The internal female generative organs are the vagina, uterus, 

 Fallopian tubes, and ovaries. 



The vagina. — The vagina is a distensible and curved musculo- 

 membranous canal, extending from the vulva to the uterus. 

 The posterior wall is about three and a half inches (89 mm.) 

 long, while the anterior wall is only three inches (76 mm.). 

 The front or anterior wall is united by connective tissue with 

 the posterior walls of the bladder and urethra, the partition or 

 septum between the bladder and vagina being called the vesico- 

 vaginal, and that between the urethra and vagina, the urethro- 

 vaginal, septum. And, if we divide the posterior wall of the 

 vagina into five sections, we find that the middle three-fifths is 

 connected with the rectum, the united walls of rectum and 

 vagina forming the recto-vaginal septum ; ^ the lower fifth is 

 separated from the rectum and is joined to the perineum ; ^ 

 while the upper fifth extends up behind the neck of the uterus. 



The vagina is made up of three coats, an outer, fibrous ; 

 middle, muscular ; and inner, mucous. The muscular coat in- 

 creases during pregnancy, and the mucous coat is arranged in 

 transverse folds or rugse, which allow of dilatation of the canal 

 during labour and birth. 



The uterus. — The uterus is a thick-walled, hollow, pear- 

 shaped organ, situated in the middle of the pelvic cavity. 

 Its upper end is a little below the level of the superior strait 

 of the pelvis (vide page 46); its lower end projects into the 

 vagina. The bladder lies in front of it ; the rectum, behind ; 



1 Perforations of the vesico-vaginal and recto-vaginal partitions constitute 

 vesico-vaginal and recto-vaginal fistulae. 



2 The perineum is a triangular section of tissue, made up of muscles strength- 

 ened vfith very strong fascia, placed between the rectum and vagina, and forming 

 the floor of the pelvis. 



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