THE UTERUS, OR WOMB 



muscular organ. The nonpregnant uterus is contained in the cavity of the pelvis 

 between the bladder and the rectum (Figs. 1166 and 1171). It is rarely placed 

 exactly in the midline, but inclines to one side or the other, more often to the 

 left than to the right. The walls of the organ are extremely thick. The uterus 

 is movable as a whole, and the body of the uterus is movable upon the neck. 

 Its position varies with the condition of adjacent parts, especially of the bladder 

 and rectum. The cervix is more firmly fixed than the body and fundus, and hence 

 the latter vary more in position than the former. Normally, in an erect indi- 

 vidual, with the bladder and rectum empty, the external os is at the level of the 

 upper surface of the pubic symphysis (Fig. 1157) and in a frontal plane passing 

 through the ischiatic spines. The long axis of the uterus is directed forward and 

 upward (Fig. 1157) and is angled where the body and cervix join. Hence, nor- 

 mally, with the bladder empty, the uterus is anteverted and anteflexed. When 

 the bladder fills, the anteversion and anteflexion are almost abolished. If the 

 bladder is overdistended and the rectum is empty, the uterus is pushed strongly 

 backward; so that its long axis corresponds to the long axis of the vagina; in 

 other words, it is retroverted. 



MESOVARIUM 



ANTERIOR ISTHMUS OF 

 BORDER OF FALLOPIAN 

 OVARY TUBE 



ABDOMINAL 

 ORIFICE 



FIMBRIAE OF 

 FALLOPIAN TUBE 



OVARIAN ARTERY 

 AND VEIN 



TUBAL 

 EXTREMITY 



OF OVARY UTERINE 



EXTREMITY 



OF OVARY 



FIG. 1161. The uterus, the left Fallopian tube, and the left ovary in their connectioK&ith the broad /igament of 

 the uterus, which has been fully unfolded. Seen from behind. From a virgin, agedVrVneteJm yeanft. (Toldt.) 



/// the virgin state it is pear-shaped, flattened from before^ttad3>d, and is 

 retained in its position by the round and broad ligaments on*ea"&PKje, and 

 projects into the upper end of the vagina below (Figs. 1161 and 1162). Mis 

 end, or base, is directed upward and forward; its lower end, or apex, dWnwali 

 and backward, in the line of the axis of the inlet of the pelvis. It thereforXfprms 

 an angle of about 110 degrees with the vagina, since the direction of the vagina 

 corresponds to the axis of the cavity and outlet of the pelvis. The nonpregnam" 

 adult uterus measures about three inches (7.5 cm.) in length, two inches (5 cm.) 

 in breadth at its upper part, and nearly an inch (2.5 cm.) in thickness, and it 

 weighs from an ounce to an ounce and a half (30 to 45 grams). 



It consists of two parts (Fig. 1161): (1) An upper and larger portion, consist 

 ing of the body and fundus. This portion is flattened from before backward, 

 (2) A lower, smaller, and cylindrical portion, the cervix. 



On the surface, .about midway between the base and apex, a slight constriction, 

 known as the isthmus uteri, and a corresponding narrowing of the uterine cavity, 

 the internal os, serve to demarcate the two portions. 



