UTERUS. 815 



indicate its adaptation for dilatation, and are calculated to facilitate its 

 ment during parturition. The mucous membrane is covered with conical and 

 filiform papillae, and provided with mucous glands and follicles, which are 

 especially numerous in its upper part, and around the cervix uteri. 



THE UTERUS. 



The Uterus is the organ of gestation, receiving the fecundated ovum in its 

 cavity, retaining and supporting it during the development of the foetus, and 

 becoming the principal agent in its expulsion at the time of parturition. 



In the virgin state it is pear-shaped, flattened from before backwards, and 

 situated in the cavity of the pelvis, between the bladder and rectum ; it is re- 

 tained in its position by the round and broad ligaments on each side, and pro- 

 jects into the upper end of the vagina below. Its upper end, or base, is -directed 

 upwards and forwards; its lower end, or apex, downwards and backwards, 

 in the line of the axis of the inlet of the pelvis. It therefore forms an angle 

 with the vagina, since the direction of the vagina corresponds to the axis of the 

 cavity and outlet of the pelvis. The uterus measures about three inches in 

 length, two in breadth at its upper part, and an inch in thickness, and it weighs 

 from an ounce to an ounce and a half. 



The fundus is the upper broad extremity of the organ; it is convex, covered 

 by peritoneum, and placed on a line below the level of the brim of the pelvis. 



The body gradually narrows from the fundus to the neck. Its anterior surface 

 is flattened, covered by peritoneum in the upper three-fourths of its extent, and 

 separated from the bladder by some convolutions of the small intestine ; the 

 lower fourth is connected with the bladder. Its posterior surface is convex, 

 covered by peritoneum throughout, and separated from the rectum by some 

 convolutions of the intestine. Its lateral margins are concave, and give attach- 

 ment to the Fallopian tube above, the round ligament below and in front of 

 this, and the ligament of the ovary behind and below both of these structures. 



The cervix is the lower rounded and constricted portion of the uterus ; around 

 its circumference is attached the upper end of the vagina, which extends up- 

 wards a greater distance behind than in front. 



At the vaginal extremity of the uterus is a transverse aperture, the os uteri, 

 bounded by two lips, the anterior of which is thick, the posterior narrow and 

 long. 



Ligaments. The ligaments of the uterus are six in number ; two anterior, 

 two posterior, and two lateral. They are formed of peritoneum. 



The two anterior ligaments (vesico -uterine] are two sernilunar folds, which pass 

 between the neck of the uterus and the posterior surface of the bladder. 



The two posterior ligaments (recto-uterine), pass between the sides of the uterus 

 and rectum. 



The two lateral or broad ligaments pass from the sides of the uterus to the 

 lateral walls of the pelvis, forming a septum across the pelvis, which divides 

 that cavity into two portions. In the anterior part are contained the bladder, 

 urethra, and vagina ; in the posterior part, the rectum. 



The cavity of the uterus is small in comparison with the size of the organ ; 

 that portion of the cavity which corresponds to the body is triangular, flattened 

 from before backwards, so that its walls are closely approximated, and having 

 its base directed upwards towards the fundus. At each superior angle is a 

 funnel-shaped cavity, which constitutes the remains of the division of the body 

 of the uterus into two cornua ; and at the bottom of each cavity is the minute 

 orifice of the Fallopian tube. At the inferior angle of the uterine cavity is a 

 small constricted opening, the internal orifice (oslium internum\ which leads 

 into the cavity of the cervix. The cavity in the cervix is somewhat cylindrical, 

 flattened from before backwards, broader at the middle than at either extremity, 

 and communicates, below, with the vagina. Each wall of the canal presents a 



