1312 



THE UKO-GENITAL SYSTEM. 



against it, is depressed to form a little fossa termed the fossa ovarii, within which 

 the ovary is placed. In the floor of this fossa are the obturator nerve and vessels. 

 The tubal extremity of the ovary lies below the level of the external iliac vessels, 

 and its uterine extremity is placed just above the level of the peritoneum covering 

 the pelvic floor. The fossa ovarii, in which the ovary lies, extends as far forwards 

 as the obliterated umbilical artery, and backwards as far as the ureter and 

 uterine vessels. Thus the mesovarian border of the ovary lies just behind the line 

 of the obliterated umbilical artery, and the free border is on a plane anterior 

 to the ureter (Fig. 1029). The medial surface of the ovary is almost completely 

 covered by the uterine tube, which, passing upwards on it near its mesovarian 

 border, arches over the tubal extremity, and then turns downwards in relation to the 

 free border and posterior part of the medial surface (Fig. 1029). 



In some cases the ovary is found to lie behind, or more rarely in front, of the fossa described 

 above, and its long axis may be oblique instead of vertical. The above description, however, 

 corresponds to the typical position of the organ in women who have not borne children. When 



Ep-oophoron Ligament 



Tuba uterina | Ovary of ovary Uterus a 



Fundus uteri 



Vesicular 

 append- 

 age of 

 Morgagni 



Lateral angle 

 of uterus 



Cavity 

 of body 



Cavity 

 of cervix 



Infundibulum of tube 



Round ligament 

 of uterus 



Broad 



ligament 



Cavity of vagina 

 A B 



FIG. 1030. A, THE POSTERIOR ASPECT OF THE UTERUS AND BROAD LIGAMENT (the broad ligament has 



been spread out). 



a, b, and c, the isthmus tubse, the ligament of the ovary, and the round ligament of the right side cut short. 

 B, DIAGRAMMATIC EEPRESENTATION OF THE UTERINE CAVITY OPENED UP FROM ITS ANTERIOR ASPECT. 



the uterus is much inclined towards the right side of the body the left ovary has its long axis 

 directed obliquely downwards and medially, the right gland remaining vertical 



Connexions of the Ovary. When the ovary is in position a small somewhat 

 triangular peritoneal fold passes upwards from its tubal extremity, and becomes 1( 

 in the peritoneum covering the external iliac vessels and the psoas major musclt 

 (Fig. 1028). This fold has received the name of ligamentum suspensorium ovarii, and it 

 a portion of the superior and lateral part of the broad ligament of the uterus, whicl 

 here contains between its two layers the ovarian vessels and nerves as they _ 

 down into the pelvis to reach the hilum of the ovary. The vessels and nerves enter- 

 ing the ovary along its mesovarian border are enclosed in a sheath of peritoneui 

 derived from the posterior layer of the broad ligament. In this way the ovary it 

 connected along the whole length of its anterior border by a very short mesentery, 

 or mesovarium, to the posterior aspect of the broad ligament (Fig. 1030). 

 uterine extremity of the ovary is connected with the lateral angle of the uterus by a< 

 ligament called the ligamentum ovarii proprium or ligament of the ovary. This hf"' 

 the form of a rounded cord enclosed between the peritoneal folds of the bi 

 ligament, and is attached to the uterus, behind and below the point of entran( 

 of the uterine tube. It is composed chiefly of smooth muscle fibres continue! 

 with those of the uterus. The tubal extremity of the ovary is directly connect 

 with one of the largest of the fimbrise surrounding the abdominal end of th< 

 uterine tube, which receives the name fimbria ovarica, or ovarian fimbria of J 

 tube (Fig. 1030). 



