THE UTERUS, OR WOMB 



1413 



supply the uterus. Dr. Robinson, instead of describing the uterine and ovarian arteries as two 

 vessels, describes them as parts of one vessel, the arteria uterina ovarica (p. 675). The veins 

 are of large size, and correspond with the arteries. In the impregnated uterus these vessels form 

 the uterine sinuses, consisting of the lining membrane of the veins adhering to the walls of the 

 canals channelled through the substance of the uterus. They terminate in the uterine plexuses, 

 \\hich empty into the internal iliac veins. The lymphatics (Fig. 1169) are described on 

 page 800. The nerves come chiefly from the uterovaginal plexus, which continues into the 

 hypogastric plexus and receives filaments from the third and fourth sacral nerves. The 

 uterus also receives direct fibres from the hypogastric plexus and from the vesical plexus. 



LATERAL AORTIC 

 NODES 



VESSELS FROM 

 BODY OF UTERUS 



VESSELS FROM 



NECK OF UTERUS 



TO LATERAL 



SACRAL NODE 



VESSELS FROM 



NECK OF UTERUS 



VESSELS OF 

 ROUND LIGAMENT 



VESSEL OF 

 FALLOPIAN TUBE 



Fi<;. 1169. The lymphatics of the internal organs of generation in the female. (Poirier and Charpy.) 



Applied Anatomy. ^Pelvic cellulitis (parametritis) is inflammation of the pelvic cellular 

 i issue. It is due to sepsis, and its usual antecedent is uterine sepsis. A laceration of the cervix 

 may admit bacteria. An abscess may form. If it points in the vagina it should be incised through 

 the vaginal wall. The uterus may require removal (hysterectomy) in cases of maiignan 

 or for fibroid tumors. Carcinoma is the most common form of malignant disease ot the i 

 though cases of sarcoma do occur. Carcinoma may show itself either as a columnar carcinoma 

 or as a squamous carcinoma, the former commencing either in the cervix or body of the uterus, 

 the latter alwavs commencing in the epithelial cells of the mucous membrane covering of the 

 vaginal surface of the cervix. The columnar form may be treated in the early stage, before fixat.c 

 has taken place, bv removal of the uterus, either through the vagina or by means of abdom 

 section The forrner operation is attended by the smaller death rate, \agmal hysterectomy 



