188 CORPORA CAVERNOSA VAGINJE. 



The membrane which lines the vagina resembles to a certain 

 degree, the membranes which secrete mucus in different parts 

 of the body. Its surface appears to consist of very small 

 papillae ; and at the anterior extremity of the vagina it forms 

 a great number of rugae, which are arranged in a transverse 

 direction, both on the part of the vagina connected to the blad- 

 der, and on that part which is connected to the rectum, while 

 the lateral parts of the vagina are smooth. These rugae are 

 most prominent in the middle ; so that a raised line appears to 

 pass through them at right angles. This line extends from 

 without inwards. The rugae on the part next to the bladder 

 are the strongest. 



This arrangement of the surface of the vagina does not ex- 

 tend beyond the external half of the canal ; on the internal 

 half part, or that nearest the uterus, the surface is smooth. 



The rugae are considerably diminished in women who have 

 had children. 



Throughout this surface are to be seen, in some cases with 

 the naked eye, the orifices of mucous follicles or ducts, which 

 occasionally discharge considerable quantities of mucus. 



Near the external orifice of the vagina, exist a couple of 

 little glands, somewhat resembling those of Cowper, which 

 discharge through their ducts a lubrifying mucus on the surface of 

 the membrane. 



Exterior to the lining membrane of the vagina is a dense 

 cellular structure, which has not yet been completely investi- 

 gated : it is of a lightish color, and has some resemblance to 

 the texture of the body of the uterus. It is very vascular, and 

 appears to be of a fibrous structure. It may be very much 

 distended, and seems to have a contractile power. 



At the anterior extremity of the vagina, on each side of it, 

 there is superadded to this, a cellular, or vascular substance, 

 from eight lines to an inch in breadth : which, when cut into, 

 resembles the corpora cavernosa, of the corpus spongiosum of 

 the penis. These bodies commence near the body of the cli- 

 toris, and extend downwards on each side of the vagina. They 

 have been called Plexus Retiformis, and Corpora Cavernosa 



