406 



PRACTICAL ANATOMY. 



mous variety. The vagina is interposed between the 

 bladder and rectum. It corresponds to the axis of the 

 pelvis, but is a movable organ, and its position is influ- 

 enced by the degree of distension of either the bladder 

 or rectum. On section, its walls are seen to be in con- 

 tact, and it appears as a transverse slit. 



THE UTERUS. 



The uterus is the organ of gestation. It is a mus- 

 cular organ, having thick walls and a small cavity. 



In the virgin, it is 

 pear-shaped and sets 

 in the upper portion 

 of the vagina as a cork 

 in the neck of a bottle. 

 It is slightly flattened 

 antero-posteriorly. Its 

 upper broad end pre- 

 sents forward and up- 

 ward; its lower end 

 is directed downward 



FIG. 174. INTERNAL, GENITAL ORGANS. 



, po . 



ments: V V', vagina laid open; L L', broad ligaments; 

 M, ovarian ligament; T T', Fallopian tubes. 



FIG. 174. INTERNAL, GENITAL ORGANS. , , , , 



U, uterus (anterior surface) ; O O/, ovaries : P P', fim- and DaCK Wai'd, 

 briae ; C, intra-vaginal portion of cervix ; R R'. round liga- /> -i , 



lOmiS an angle With 



the vagina. It is one 



inch thick, two inches broad, and three inches long. Its 

 walls are about half an inch thick, and it weighs about 

 one and a half ounces. It is divided into a fundus, body 

 and neck. The fundus is the upper portion of the organ. 

 It is broad, convex, and covered by peritoneum. 



The body may be said to represent the frustum of a 

 cone, which begins at the fundus and narrows toward 

 the cervix. Anteriorly its upper part is covered by peri- 

 toneum, which also covers the posterior surface of the 

 body. Laterally it affords attachment to the Fallopian 



