182 



PHYSIOLOGY 



CHAP. 



u 



cylinder of a size corresponding to that of the extraneous body 

 by which it is distended. The fundus of the vagina is called 



the vaginal fornix, and is repre- 

 sented by a circular groove with a 

 blind bottom ; within this projects 

 the inferior part of the cervix of the 

 uterus with which the vaginal wall 

 is normally in contact. The external 

 vaginal orifice by which the vagina 

 communicates with the deep part of 

 the vulva, is surrounded in virgins 

 by a vaginal fold which is called the 

 hymen ; it is usually of a semi-lunar 

 form, but is subject to numerous 

 variations and anomalies, which have 

 a notable interest from the point of 

 view 'of forensic medicine (Fig. 66). 

 In the first sexual relations the 

 hymen is usually lacerated in its free 

 margins with effusion of blood (de- 

 floration), and after cicatrisation is 

 reduced to a number of little pro- 

 jections. 



During the first parturition, owing 

 to the passage of the foetal head, the 

 lacerations extend to the attached 

 borders of the hymen, which after cicatricial retraction constitute 

 on the circumference of the vaginal orifice the so-called carunculae 

 myrtiformes. 



FIG. 65. Horizontal section of soft parts 

 within lower confines of pelvis. (Henle.) 

 U, urethra ; V, vagina ; Ea, levator ani ; 

 R, rectum. 



FIG. 66. Variations of the hymen (Testut). A, hymen semilunaris ; B, fimbriatus ; C, bilabiatus 

 D, septiformis ; E, cribriformis. 



The internal surface of the vagina presents many transverse 

 or oblique rugae caused by the presence in the vaginal walls of 



