INTERNAL ORGANS. 23 



'plexus^ and from the hypogastric nerves and plexus^ being a mixture 

 of sacral sympathetic nerves. The cavity of the uterus is triangular, 

 its base being directed upwards, and the superior angle correspond- 

 ing to the points where the Fallopian tubes enter it ; in size it is about 

 equal to a split almond, and the internal walls are nearly always in 

 contact. Its inferior angle communicates with the vagina through 

 the canal of the cervix, which is barrel-shaped, and from half to 

 three quarters of an inch long. The contraction at the upper extre- 

 mity of the canal is called the internal os uteri, whilst that at the 

 lower extremity is called the os uteri or os tincce, ; the latter name 

 from its supposed resemblance to the mouth of the tench. The shape 

 of the OS uteri varies, in some being transverse, and in others cir- 

 cular, or ragged ; the latter especially in women who have borne 

 children. In the mucous membrane of the cervix are found the 

 glandules Nabothi. 



The broad ligaments of the uterus are two duplicatures of peri- 

 toneum, one on either side, extending from the sides of the uterus to 

 the ilia, in the line which divides the anterior from the posterior in- 

 clined planes of the pelvis ; they act as stays to the uterus, and con- 

 tain the Fallopian tubes, which run along their upper margin, and the 

 ovaries, which are enclosed in a posterior fold. 



The Fallopian tubes are two cylindrical canals, about four inches 

 long, which arise from the superior angles of the uterus. They open 

 obliquely into the uterus, at which point the canal narrows ; it after- 

 wards expands, and again contracts at the point where it opens into 

 the abdomen. In the unimpregnated state it is about the size of a 

 bristle. Externally they are equally thick throughout, except at their 

 terminal extremity, where they expand into a trumpet-shaped enlarge- 

 ment, caWed fimbria, or morsus diaboli, which applies itself to the 

 ovary. They have three coats, an hiternal mucous, a middle m^us- 

 cular, and an external serous, or peritoneal, and they are looked 

 upon as the excretory ducts of the ovaries. 



The ovaries are two in number, and are the analogues of the male 

 testis. They are situated on the posterior face of the broad liga- 

 ments, and are attached to the uterus by a ligament of their own, 

 called the ligamentum ovarii. They are oval in shape, and have 

 two coats, an external peritoneal, and an internal, the tunica albu- 

 ginea. On removing these we come to the proper tissue of the ovary, 

 called its stroma, which consists of dense cellular tissue, containing 

 within its meshes or areolae, numerous little vesicles, named Graafian 

 vesicles. These vary in number and size, the largest being gene- 

 rally seen near the surface of the ovary ; they are found early in 

 life, but are more developed about the period of puberty. 



The Graafian vesicle has two coats, an external, the tunic of the 

 ovisac, and internal, the ovisac, (Barry.) Within the cavity formed 

 by these membranes is found, floating in an albuminous fluid, the 

 ovum or egg, which is exceedingly small, and resembles in all its 



