Chap. XX.] FEMALE GENERATIVE ORGANS. 245 



Owing to the thickness of its walls, the cavity of the uterus 

 is comparatively small. The cavity is triangular in shape (v)» 

 and has three openings, one at each upper angle, communicating 

 with the Fallopian tubes, and one, the os internum, or internal 

 mouth, opening into the cavity of the cervix below. The cav- 

 ity of the cervix, which is, of course, continuous with the 

 cavity in the body, is constricted above, where it opens into 

 the body by means of the os internum, and below, where it 

 opens exteriorly by means of the os externum, ^ or external 

 mouth. Between these two openings, the cavity of the cervix 

 is somewhat enlarged. 



The walls of the uterus consist mainly of bundles of plain 

 muscular tissue, arranged in layers which run circularly, longi- 

 tudinally, spirally, and cross and interlace in every direction. 

 A part of the external surface is covered by a portion of the 

 peritoneum in the form of broad ligaments, and the inner sur- 

 face is lined by a mucous membrane. This mucous membrane 

 is continuous with that lining the vagina and Fallopian tubes. 

 It is highly vascular, provided with numerous mucous glands, 

 and is covered with ciliated epithelium. 



The uterus is abundantly supplied with blood-vessels, lym- 

 phatics, and nerves. The blood reaches the uterus by means 

 of the uterine arteries from the internal iliacs, and the ovarian 

 arteries from the aorta. Where the neck joins the body of 

 the uterus, the arteries from both sides are united by a branch 

 vessel, called the circumflex artery. If this branch is cut dur- 

 ing a surgical operation, or a tear of the neck during partu- 

 rition extends so far as to sever it, the hemorrhage is very 

 profuse. The arteries are remarkable for their tortuous course 

 and frequent anastomoses. The veins are of large size and cor- 

 respond in their behaviour to the arteries. 



During pregnancy all the tissues of the uterus become much 

 enlarged, undergoing what is called a physiological hupertropliy. 

 The uterus increases in weight from two or three ounces (57 to 

 85 grammes) to two or three pounds (907 to 1360 grammes). 

 After parturition, it goes back to nearly its former size. The 

 tissues all go through a gradual shrinkage, or what is called a 

 physiological atrop>hy. The enlarged muscles especially undergo 



1 The OS externum is bounded by two folds or lips of the mucous membrane, 

 the anterior of which is thick, and the posterior narrow and long. 



