DISSECTION OF THE PELVIS. 369 



suspension by the broad ligaments has already been observed in 

 connection with the peritoneum (page 312). 



The organ is single in its posterior portion, and bifid in front. 



The anterior bifurcations of the organ are termed its cornua or horns. 

 At its anterior extremity each horn is pointed, and receives the 

 uterine opening of the Fallopian tube. From this point the calibre of 

 the horn gradually increases to its posterior end, where it opens into 

 the body of the organ. Each horn shows a concave upper border at 

 which the broad ligament reaches it, while its lower border is convex 

 and free. The cornua are entirely abdominal in position, and are 

 related to the intestines. 



The posterior single portion of the uterus comprises the body, and the 

 neck, or cervix ; but this division is not apparent on the exterior. 



The body, placed in front, presents two faces, two borders, and two 

 extremities. The upper face is slightly flattened and related to the 

 rectum ; the lower face, also flattened, is related to the intestines in 

 front, and to the bladder behind ; the borders, right and left, show the 

 insertions of the broad ligaments; the anterior extremity, or fundus, is 

 the widest part of the body, and it is joined at each angle by the cornu ; 

 the posterior extremity is continuous with the cervix. The body of the 

 uterus is partly abdominal and partly pelvic in situation. 



The cervix is the extreme posterior part of uterus. It is directly 

 continuous with the body in front ; and its posterior extremity, as will 

 be seen when the organ is laid open, projects into the anterior extremity 

 of the vagina. 



The Vagina is a tubular organ which connects the uterus and the 

 vulva. It is lodged entirely within the pelvis, being related to the 

 rectum above, to the bladder and urethra below, and to the ureters and 

 pelvic walls laterally. Its mode of connection with the two cavities 

 that it connects will be examined later on. Its average length is about 

 nine or ten inches. 



The Vulva is the passage that continues the vagina backwards, and 

 opens on the surface of the body beneath the anus. 



The tube of the vulva, or vestibule, is about five inches in length. It 

 is united by cellular tissue to the rectum above, and to the pelvic floor 

 below, while on each side it is related to the retractor ani muscle. Below 

 and laterally it is covered by a layer of striped muscular tissue — the 

 anterior constrictor of the vulva. The fibres of this muscle after embrac- 

 ing the tube of the vulva are lost on the sides of the rectum. 



The external opening of the vulva has the form of a vertical slit, and 

 it is bounded at the sides by the labia, which meet above and below to 

 form the commissures. The superior commissure is acute, and separated 

 from the anus by a narrow interval. The inferior commissure is rounded, 

 and immediately within it the clitoris is lodged. The labia are covered 



2b 



