THE UTERUS. 



1171 



The cavity of the cervix is somewhat fusiform, flattened from before backward, 

 broader at the middle than at either extremity, and communicates below with the 



FIG. 748.-- Side view of the female pelvic organs. (From a preparation in the Museum of the Royal College 

 of Surgeons.) 



vagina. The wall of the canal presents, anteriorly and posteriorly, a longitudinal 

 column, from which proceed a number of small oblique columns, giving the appear- 

 ance of branches from the stem of a tree ; and hence the name arbor vitce uterina 



uttri Peritoneal 



covering 



Cervix 



Vaginal portion 

 of uterus 



Os uteri 



FIG. 749. Anterior section through the virgin FIG. 750. Opening in the wall of the cervical canal 



uterus. (Bardeleben.) in a human uterus, showing the plicae palmatae. (Bar- 



deleben.l 



(plicae palmatfe) applied to it. These folds usually become very indistinct after the 

 first labor (Fig. 750). 



Structure. The uterus is composed of three coats an external serous coat, a 

 middle or muscular, and an internal mucous coat. 



