THE VAG1XA. 419 



separate examination. For this purpose the student should keep the 

 scalpel close to the osseous boundary of the pelvic outlet, so as to 

 avoid injuring the end of the rectum ; and he should also detach the 

 cms of the clitoris from the bone. 



After the parts are taken from the body, the rectum is to be and prepare 

 separated from the uterus and the vagina, but the rest of the viscera them - 

 may remain united until after the genital organs are examined. 

 The bladder and rectum may be moderately distended ; and the fat 

 and areolar tissue are to be removed from the viscera. 



GENITAL ORGANS. 



The genital organs, or external organs of generation, consist of External 

 the following parts : the mons Veneris and external labia, the 

 clitoris and internal labia, and the vestibule with the meatus 

 urinarius ; they have been seen in the dissection of the perineum 

 (p. 255 et seq.}. Within the internal labia is the aperture of the 

 vagina, with the hymen. The name vulva or pudendum is applied 

 to these parts as a whole. 



GENERATIVE ORGANS. 



The generative organs, or internal organs of generation, are the Separate 

 uterus and vagina, and the ovaries with the Fallopian tubes. uterus - anC 



Dissection. The viscera are now to be separated, so that the 



bladder and the urethra may be together, and the vagina and the 

 uterus remain united. The bladder is to be set aside for subsequent 



examination. The surface of the vagina and the lower part of the clean 



uterus should be cleaned ; but the peritoneal investment of the va s ina - 

 latter is to be left untouched for the present. 



THE VAGINA. 



The general relations of the vagina have been described on Vagina : 

 page 394. The tube of the vagina (fig. 146, p. 391), is con- extent 

 nected with the uterus at one end, and with the vulva at the other, and curved 

 It has a slightly curved course between the two points mentioned ; co 

 and the anterior and posterior walls are not equal in length, for the 

 former measures about two inches, and the latter three. 



In the body the vagina is flattened from before backwards, so form 

 that the opposite surfaces are in contact ; and the upper part of the 

 posterior wall is applied to the lower end of the uterus. Its size and size, 

 varies at different spots ; thus the external orifice, which is sur- 

 rounded by the constrictor vaginse muscle, is the narrowest part ; 

 the middle portion is the largest ; and the upper end is intermediate 

 in dimensions between the other two. 



After the vagina has been laid open by an incision along the side, interior, 

 the position of the uterus in the anterior wall, instead of at the 

 extremity of the passage, may be remarked ; and the tube may be 

 seen to extend farther on the posterior than on the anterior lip of the 



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