DISSECTION OF THE PELVIS. 



367 



expansion is smooth and covered by peritoneum. The uterine extremity 

 of the tube opens into the extremity of the uterine horn by a minute 

 orifice — the ostium uterinum. In the substance of the fimbriated 

 extremity of the Fallopian tube, or attached to it, one or two small 

 cysts are occasionally found. These are the so-called cysts of 

 Morgagni. 



Although the Fallopian tube bears to the ovary the relationship of an 

 excretory duct, in that it conveys away the ova, it differs from all other 

 excretory ducts in not having its lumen closely continuous with the 

 interior of the gland whose secretion it conveys. Moreover, this discon- 



Fm. 52. 



Right Ovary and Fallopian Tube. 



1. Fallopian tube ; 2. Abdominal opening (fimbriated extremity) of the same; 3. A probe intro- 

 duced into the uterine opening of the tube ; 4. Ovary ; 5. Ligament of the ovary ; 6. Broad liga- 

 ment of the uterus ; 7. Tip of uterine cornu laid open. 



tinuity between the Fallopian tube and the ovary establishes an indirect 

 communication between the sac of the peritoneum and the surface of 

 the body, and brings about the single exception to the rule that serous 

 membranes form perfectly closed sacs. 



Structure of the Tube. The wall of the oviduct comprises the 

 following layers, enumerated from without inwards, viz., (1) an outer 

 serous coat, derived from the broad ligament ; (2) a coat of non-striped 

 muscular tissue, arranged as an outer longitudinal and an inner circular 

 set of fibres ; (3) a submucous coat of vascular connective-tissue ; (4) a 

 mucous coat, having a ciliated columnar epithelium. 



The lumen of the tube is narrowest at its uterine extremity and 

 widest at the ovary. 



