VESSELS OF THE UTERUS. 197 



jjria ovisacci, as It was named by Barry. The second or internal 

 forms the proper ovisac. By the aid of the microscope, a third 

 membrane, of a serous character, and granulated on its surface 

 (membrana granulosa), is found lining the ovisac. In the midst 

 of the albuminous fluid contained by the third membrane floats 

 lightly attached, the proper ovum or ovule a minute spherical or 

 rather oblong body, from the \^ to the |=r part of a line in diameter. 

 The proper germ or ovum, which finally escapes by the lacera- 

 tion of the walls of the vesicles after conception is taken up by 

 the prehensile action of the Fallopian tube and transmitted to the 

 uterus. The lacerated walls of the vesicle, give issue to some 

 blood, secrete a yellowish fluid, become fibrous and spongy and 

 finally cicatrise over a central cavity in which the ovum has been 

 lodged, and thus constitute the corpus luteum. False corpora 

 lutea, are sometimes m.et with in the ovaries of the virgin, having 

 a somewhat similar appearance to the foregoing, but being of smal- 

 ler size and without any central cavity. 



The Arteries 



Of the uterus are derived from two very different sources ; 

 namely, from the spermatic and from the hypogastric arteries. 



The spermatic arteries, instead of passing directly down to 

 the abdominal ring, proceed between the lamina of the broad 

 ligament, and send branches to the ovaries, which may some- 

 times be traced to the vesicles. They also send branches to 

 the Fallopian tubes and to the uterus. Those which are on the 

 opposite sides of the uterus anastomose with each other, and 

 also with the branches of the hypogastric arteries. There are 

 also branches of these arteries in the round ligaments which 

 accompany them to their termination outside of the abdominal ring. 



The principal arteries of the uterus are those derived from 

 the hypogastric, which sends to each side of it a considerable 

 branch, called the Uterine. This vessel leaves the hypogastric 

 very near the origin of the internal pudic, and proceeds to the 

 cervix of the uterus : it passes between the lamina of the 

 broad ligaments, and sends branches to the edge of the uterus, 

 which penetrate its texture. The branches which are in the 

 texture of the uterus are very small, indeed, in young subjects. 

 17* 



