246 ANATOMY FOE NURSES. [CHAP. XX. 



fatty degeneration and absorption, called " involution," in con- 

 tradistinction to " evolution " or development. This process of 

 involution is not accomplished under six weeks, and sometimes 

 requires longer. 



The uterus is not firmly attached or adherent to any part of 

 the skeleton. It is, as it were, suspended in the pelvic cavity, 

 and kept in position by ligaments. A full bladder pushes it 

 backward ; a distended rectum, forward. It alters its position, 

 by gravity, with change of posture. During gestation it rises 

 into the abdominal cavity. 



The uterus has five pairs of ligaments attached to it, the 

 chief of which are the broad and round ligaments. The broad 



FIG. 141. THE UTERUS AND ITS APPENDAGES. ANTERIOR VIEW. 



ligaments are folds of peritoneum slung over the front and back 

 of the uterus, and extending laterally to the walls of the pelvis. 

 The anterior fold covers the front of the uterus as far as the 

 middle of the cervix, when it turns up and is reflected over 

 the back wall of the bladder. The posterior fold covers the 

 back of the uterus, and extends far enough below to also 

 cover the upper one-fifth of the back wall of the vagina, when 

 it turns up and is reflected over the anterior wall of the rectum. 

 Thus the uterus, with, and between its two broad ligaments, 

 forms a transverse partition in the pelvic cavity, the bladder, 

 vagina, and urethra being in the front compartment, and the 

 rectum in the back compartment. The round ligaments are 

 two rounded fibre-muscular cords, situated between the folds 

 of the broad ligament. They are about four arid a half inches 

 (114 mm.) long, and extend from the upper angle of the uterus 

 forwards and outwards to be inserted into the vulva. 



