1326 THE UKO-GENITAL SYSTEM. 



surface of the hymen is directly continuous with the vaginal wall, and on it are 

 to be seen slight ridges continuous with the vaginal rugae. 



Development ally the hymen appears to be a portion of the vagina. 



On each side of the vaginal opening, and close against the medial side of the 

 attached margin of the labium minus, is the minute opening of the duct of 

 the glandula vestibularis major (O.T. Bartholin's gland). This is usually just large 

 enough to be visible to the unaided eye. 



Numerous minute mucous glands, the glandulse vestibulares minores, open on the surface 

 of the mucous membrane of the vestibule, between the urethral and vaginal orifices. The 

 opening of the ductus para-urethralis at the side of the urethral orifice has been already noted, 

 p. 1285. 



Clitoris. The clitoris is the morphological equivalent of the penis, and is 

 composed of a body and two crura. Upon the summit of the body is a minute 

 glans. Unlike the penis, the clitoris is not traversed by the urethra. 



The corpus clitoridis is composed for the most part of erectile tissue resembling 

 that of the penis in the male. It is about an inch or an inch and a half in length, 

 and is bent upon itself, forming an angle open downwards. The body of the 

 clitoris tapers towards its distal end, which is covered by the glans clitoridis. 

 The organ is enclosed in a dense fibrous coat, and is divided by an incomplete 

 septum, the septum corporum cavernosomm, into two symmetrical and somewhat 

 cylindrical portions, the corpora cavernosa clitoridis. These represent the corpora 

 cavernosa penis of the male, and diverge from one another at the root of the 

 clitoris to form the crura clitoridis. A ligamentum suspensorium clitoridis passes 

 from the fibrous coat of the body of the clitoris to the symphysis pubis (Fig. 1036). 



The glans clitoridis is a small mass of erectile tissue which is fitted over the 

 pointed end of the body. It possesses, like the glans penis, which it represents, a 

 very sensitive epithelium. The prseputium, or fold of skin which covers it, and the 

 frenulum clitoridis, which is attached to it inferiorly, are continuous with the labia 

 minora (Fig. 1036). 



The crura clitoridis diverge from the body posteriorly, and are attached to the 

 sides of the pubic arch. Each is continuous with one of the corpora cavernosa, and 

 has a firm fibrous sheath, which is covered by the corresponding ischio-cavernosus 

 or erector clitoridis muscle. In structure the crura and body of the clitoris 

 resemble the corpora cavernosa penis, while the glans more closely resembles the 

 bulbus vestibuli, with which it is continuous through a structure known as the 

 pars intermedia. 



In the seal and some other animals, a bone, which represents the os" penis of the male, is 

 developed in the septum of the clitoris. This bone receives the name os clitoridis. 



Arteries and Nerves of the Clitoris. Each cms receives a branch, the arteria profunda 

 clitoridis, from the internal pudendal, while the glans is supplied by branches of the arteria 

 dorsalis clitoridis. 



The nerve-supply of the clitoris is derived partly from the hypogastric sympathetic plexus 

 and partly from the dorsal nerves of the clitoris, which are branches of the pudendal nerves. 



Bulbus Vestibuli. The bulbus vestibuli is a mass of erectile tissue, in the 

 female, which corresponds developmentally to the corpus cavernosum urethrse of 

 the male. In the female the fusion of the two halves of this structure is not 

 nearly so complete as in the male, for the vagina and urethra separate the bulbus 

 vestibuli into a right and a left portion which are only slightly connected in front 

 by a narrow median part called the pars intermedia. Each half of the bulb is 

 thick and massive posteriorly, and more pointed in front, where it joins the pars 

 intermedia. It rests against the lateral wall of the vagina, and upon the -superficial 

 aspect of the fascia inferior of the urogenital diaphragm. It represents one- 

 half of the corpus cavernosum urethrse of the male. Superficially it is covered by 

 the bulbo-cavernosus muscle. The pars intermedia lies above the opening of the 

 urethra, and becomes continuous with the tissue of the glans clitoridis. 



The bulbus vestibuli is for the most part composed of minute convoluted blood- 

 vessels, held together by a very small amount of connective tissue. These vessels 

 frequently anastomose with one another, and those of each half communicate 

 with the vessels of the pars intermedia and the glans clitoridis. 



