CHAPTEK V 



THE GENERATIVE SYSTEM OF THE FEMALE 



SUMMARY. 1. The ovary and the (rraafian follicles, primary and vesicular ; 

 ovulation, follicular atresia, and formation of the corpora lutea. 2. The uterus and 

 Fallopian tubes ; the phenomena of female puberty ; the periodic phenomena, 

 general and local, of menstruation. 3. The relations between ovulation, menstrua- 

 tion, and the variations of the functional tone of the whole organism. 4. The 

 female copulatory organs and their functions during coitus. 5. The mechanism of 

 the impregnation of the ovum. 6. The phenomena of maturation, fertilisation of 

 the ovum, and their physiological significance. 7. The fertilised ovum as the 

 germ of the future organism. 8. The influence of the ovary on the whole organism, 

 deduced specially from the effects of spaying. Bibliography. 



I. THE sexual apparatus of woman is not less complex than 

 that of man. The genital organ in the strict sense is represented 

 by the ovary, which forms the ova, as the testicle produces the 

 spermatozoa; the organs for sexual intercourse, and the ex- 

 pulsion of the foetus are represented by the vulva, or external 

 genital parts, and the vagina ; the organs in which occur fertilisa- 

 tion of the ovum and the development of the product of con- 

 ception are represented by the oviducts or Fallopian tubes and 

 the uterus or womb respectively (Fig. 43). 



The ovaries are very small at birth, but develop remarkably at 

 the time of puberty ; they continue to grow up to mature age ; 

 begin to diminish at the critical epoch or menopause, and reach 

 an extreme degree of atrophy in old age. In the adult woman 

 they are 3 to 5 cms. long, T5 to 3 wide, and 0'50 to 1-50 

 thick. They weigh 6 to 8 grms. (Waldeyer). They are of 

 an oval shape, flattened like an almond, with a moderate con- 

 sistence which increases with age, and a dull reddish-grey colour ; 

 in children they have a smooth and regular surface, which from 

 puberty onwards always becomes more irregular owing to the 

 effect, as we shall see, of ovulation or the periodical appearance 

 of the follicles (Fig. 44). 



In a section of the ovary may be distinguished a medullary or 

 vascular substance and a cortical or parenchymatous. The first 

 forms the central part of the organ, and consists of numerous 

 vessels, nerves, and interposed connective tissue, with elastic and 



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