THE FALLOPIAN TUBES. 193 



leads, and when the cavity of the uterus becomes enlarged in 

 the progress of pregnancy, this canal is gradually converted 

 into a part of that cavity. 



The lower extremity of the neck of the uterus is irregularly 

 convex and tumid. The orifice of the canal in it, is oval, and 

 so situated that it divides the convex surface of the neck into 

 two portions, which are called the Liys. The anterior or upper 

 portion is thicker than the other. 



This extremity of the uterus protrudes into the vagina, and 

 is commonly called Os Tinea. As the anterior portion or lip is 

 larger and more tumid than the posterior, the vagina extends far- 

 ther beyond the os tincae on the posterior part than on the anterior. 



The Fallopian Tubes (or Oviducts) 



Are two canals, from four to five inches in length, which 

 proceed between the lamina of the broad ligaments, from the 

 upper angles of the uterus, in a transverse direction, to some 

 distance from the uterus, when they form an angle, and take a 

 direction downwards towards the ovaries. 



They are formed, for a considerable part of their extent, by 

 a substance which resembles that of which the uterus consists, 

 and are lined by a membrane continued from the internal 

 membrane of the uterus. Their extremities appear to be com- 

 posed of membrane, which is rendered florid by the blood-ves- 

 sels in its texture. At the commencement, their diameters are 

 extremely small ; but they enlarge in their progress. This 

 enlargement is gradual for the first half, and afterwards 'sudden j 

 the enlarged part is more membranous than the small part, 

 and has a bright red color. The large extremity is loose in 

 the cavity of the pelvis, and is not invested by the lamina of 

 the broad ligaments. Near the termination the diameter is 

 often contracted ; after which the membrane which forms the 

 tube expands into an open mouth, the margin of which consists 

 of fringed processes : tliis margin is also oblique, as respects 

 the axis of the tube ; and the different fringed processes are 

 not all of the same length ; but the longest are in the middle^ 

 and the others regularly diminish on each side of them : these 

 processes constitute the Fimbricc of the Fallopian tubes. 

 VOL. II. 17 



