OVARIES AND FALLOPIAN TUBES. 539 



the middle of the organ. At the sides the fibres converge towards the 

 broad ligament ; some are inserted into the subperitoneal fibrous tissue ; 

 and others are continued into the Fallopian tube, the round ligament, and 

 the ligament of the. ovary. 



The internal fibres describe circles around the openings of the Fallopian 

 tubes, and spread from these apertures till they meet at the middle line. 

 At the neck of the uterus they are arranged in a transverse direction. 



The middle or intervening set of fibres are more indistinct than the 

 others, and have a less determinate direction. 



The mucous lining of the uterus is continued into the vagina at one 

 end, and into the Fallopian tubes at the other. 



In the body of the uterus it is of a reddish-white color, and is thin, 

 smooth, and adherent, but without papillae. Like the mucous membrane 

 of the intestine, it possesses tubular glands, which may be either straight 

 and simple, or twisted and branched ; they are lined by ciliated epithe- 

 lium, and their minute apertures are scattered over the surface. 



In the cervix uteri, between the rugae, mucous follicles and glands are 

 collected, and near the outer opening are papillae. 



The epithelial covering of the mucous membrane consists of a single 

 layer of cells, which are columnar and ciliated throughout the cavity of 

 the uterus. 



The bloodvessels of the uterus are large and tortuous and occupy canals 

 in the uterine substance, in which they communicate freely together. The 

 arteries are furnished from the uterine and ovarian branches (p. 516). 



The veins correspond with the arteries : they are large in size, and form 

 plexuses in the uterus. 



The nerves are derived from the sympathetic (p. 519), and are very 

 small in proportion to the size of the uterus : in the cervix they are traced 

 to the papillae. 



Lymphatics. One set accompanies the uterine vessels to the glands on 

 the iliac artery. Another set issues from the fundus, enters the broad 

 ligament, and accompanies the ovarian artery to the glands on the aorta : 

 the last are joined by lymphatics of the ovary and Fallopian tube. 



Round ligament of the uterus (fig. 175, N). This firm cord supports 

 the uterus, and is contained partly in the broad ligament, and partly in 

 the inguinal canal. It is about five inches in length, and is attached to 

 the upper part of the uterus close below, and anterior to the Fallopian 

 tube. A process of the peritoneum accompanies it in the inguinal canal, 

 and remains pervious sometimes for a short distance. 



The ligament is composed of unstriated muscular fibres, derived from 

 the uterus, together with vessels and areolar tissue. 



OVARIES AND FALLOPIAN TUBES. 



OVARY (fig. 187). The ovaries are two bodies, corresponding with the 

 testes of the male. They are contained in the broad ligaments of the 

 uterus, one in each. 



Each ovary is of an elongated form, and somewhat flattened from above 

 down. It is of a whitish color, with either a smooth or a scarred surface. 

 Its volume is variable ; but in the virgin state it is about one inch and a 

 half in length, half that size in width, and a third of an inch in thickness. 

 Its weight varies from one to two drachms. 



The ovary is placed at the back of the broad ligament, and is connected 



