THE VAGINA. 



1323 



the bladder. Near its termination the vagina pierces the fascia inferior of the uro- 

 genital diaphragm, and is related on each side to the bulbus vestibuli, the larger 

 vestibular glands, and the r/ulbo-cavernosus (sphincter vaginae) muscle. 



Structure of the Vagina. The vaginal wall has a distinct tunica muscularis, 



composed of unstriped muscle fibres, most of which are longitudinally disposed. Towards 



Spina iliaea 

 superior posterior 



Apex of os sacrum 



Incisura ischiadica 

 major 



Rectum 

 Peritoneum 



Ureter 



Spina ischiadica 

 Uterine artery 



Bladder wall 



Ureter 



Levator ani 

 Ligamentum sacro- 

 tuberosum 



Ischio-rectal fossa 

 Tuber ischiadicum 

 Glutseus maximus 



/ External sphincter ani 



Recto-vaginal pouch / Rectum 



Vaginal wall 



1034. POSTERIOK ASPECT OP THE VAGINA, THE BASE OF BLADDER, AND THE RECTO-VAGINAL POUCH 



OP PERITONEUM. 



coccyx and the ligamentum sacrotuberosum and ligamentum sacrospinosum, together with the muscles 

 attached to them, have been removed. The levatores ani have been separated along the median raphe, 

 and drawn laterally. A considerable portion of the rectum has been removed, but the position which it 

 occupied is indicated by the dotted lines. The peritoneum is indicated by a blue colour. The recto- 

 vaginal pouch is probably not quite so deep as usual. The triangular, interval between the ureter and 

 uterine artery was filled by a mass of fibre-muscular tissue, forming the lateral cervical ligament of 

 the uterus. 



jthe lower end of the passage circularly disposed bundles of striped muscle fibres, some of 

 which are continuous with those forming a part of the urethral wall, are found in the 

 'muscular coat. The thick tunica mucosa, which has a stratified scaly epithelium, is 

 corrugated, and presents a number of transverse ridges or elevations called rugae vaginales. 

 In addition to these transverse rugse, a slightly marked longitudinal ridge, or column, is 

 to be seen on the anterior and on the posterior wall of the vagina. These receive the 

 name columnae rugarum, and, like the transverse rugse, are best seen in young subjects 

 and in the lower part of the vagina. The urethral canal lies in close relationship to the 

 anterior column of the vagina in its lower part, and hence this portion of the anterior 

 column is sometimes called the carina urethralis. 



