INTERNAL ORGANS. 



21 



The urethra is about an inch and a half long, dilatable, and ex- 

 tends from before backwards and upwards, running under and behind 

 the symphysis pubis. 



The hymen is a fold of mucous membrane, generally of a 

 crescentic shape, with its concavity upwards, which is found just 

 within the orifice of the vagina ; it is generally ruptured at the first 

 sexual intercourse, and its remains constitute what are known as the 

 carunculce myrtiformes. The space between the hymen and the 

 fourchette is called \\\q fossa navicidaris. 



The external wgans in the aggregate are often spoken of under 

 the name 'pudendum, 



THE INTERNAL ORGANS. 



The vagina is a musculo-membranous canal, extending from its 

 origin in the vulva obliquely through the cavity of the pelvis to the 

 uterus, in its progress describing a curve, which is greater even than 

 than that of the sacrum and coccyx, having the neck of the bladder, 

 the urethra, and the symphysis pubis anteriorly, and the rectum pos- 

 teriorly. It is about four or five inches long, and three in circum- 

 ference, being shorter and more capacious in those who have borne 

 children. Tt has three coats, an external cellular, a middle muscular, 

 and internal mucous. It is well supplied with blood-vessels, which 

 are much multiplied and interlaced at its anterior extremity, consti- 

 tuting what is known as thepkxus retiformis. Its mucous membrane 

 is of a pink colour, and is arranged in transverse rugae anteriorly and 

 posteriorly, which allow great distension of the vagina. Its orifice 



Fig. 8. 



