CORPUS LUTEUM 



333 



impregnated, has an influence upon the growth of that cor- 

 pus. If the ovum failed of fecundation the corpus luteum 

 will reach its highest development in about fifteen days, and 

 will then assume the character of cicatrical tissue and be ab- 

 sorbed in a few weeks. If the ovum is fecundated, the cor- 

 pus luteum will increase in size for some three months, until 

 it may be half the size of the ovary. At labor it has been re- 

 duced to a white cicatrix, which probably persists as a small 

 nodule throughout life. The differences between the cor- 

 pora lutea pf menstruation and pregnancy are shown by the 

 following table from Dalton: 



Corpus Luteum 

 of Menstruation. 



Corpus Luteum 

 of Pregnancy. 



At the end of 

 three weeks. 



One month. 



Two months. 



Four months. 



Six months. 



Nine months. 



Three-quarters of an inch in diameter; central 

 clot reddish ; convoluted wall pale. 



Smaller ; convoluted 

 wall bright yellow ; clot 

 still reddish. 



Reduced to the con- 

 dition of an insignificant 

 cicatrix. 



Absent or unnotice- 

 able. 



Absent. 



Absent. 



Larger; convoluted wall 

 bright yellow; clot still 

 reddish. 



Seven-eighths of an inch 

 in diameter ; convoluted ; 

 wall bright yellow; clot 

 perfectly decolorized. 



Seven-eighths of an inch 

 in diameter; clot pale and 

 fibrinous; convoluted wall 

 dull yellow. 



Still as large as at the 

 end of second month; clot 

 fibrinous ; convoluted wall 

 paler. 



Half an inch in diame- 

 ter; central clot converted 

 into a radiating cicatrix; 

 external wall tolerably 

 thick and convoluted, but 

 without any bright yellow 

 color. 



