THE OVARIES. 409 



Hum is columnar. Great numbers of mucous follicles 

 are imbedded in the mucous membrane of the uterus. 

 Sometimes they become closed and then distend, forming 

 slight elevations, called the ovula of Naboth. The uter- 

 ine arteries are remarkably tortuous, and anastomose 

 freely. The veins are sinuses which channel the sub- 

 stance of the organ. The uterus is extraordinarily sup- 

 plied with sympathetic nerves. These form multiple 

 ganglia in the substance of the organ. 



FALLOPIAN TUBES. 



The Fallopian tubes transmit the ova from the ova- 

 ries into the cavity of the uterus. They are two tubes, 

 each about four inches long, which extend transversely 

 outward from the superior angles of the uterus. They 

 are inclosed within the free border of the broad liga- 

 ment, and terminate externally in an expanded opening, 

 the ostium abdominale, surrounded by fringe-like proc- 

 esses, the fimbriae. The tube has three coats, serous, 

 from the peritoneum, muscular, and mucous. The last 

 is thrown into numerous longitudinal folds, and is cov- 

 ered by ciliated epithelium. 



THE OVARIES. 



The ovaries are two almond-sized and shaped bodies, 

 situated in the broad ligament and attached to the outer 

 extremity of the Fallopian tube by one of the fimbrise 

 and by the other end through the ligament of the ovary to 

 the angle of the uterus behind the Fallopian tube. They 

 are of a yellowish color, slightly irregular on their surface. 

 Each ovary is composed of a loose, fibrous investment, 

 from which is derived the stroma or sponge- work of the 

 ovary, and in the meshes of which are the Graafian vesi- 

 cles. The stroma consists of fibre-muscular structure, 

 vessels, and nerves. A Graafian vesicle, when mature, 



