THE UTERINE OR FALLOPIAN TUBES — THE UTERUS 511 



THE UTERINE OR FALLOPIAN TUBES 

 The uterine or Fallopian tubes (Tu])te uterinse) act as excretory ducts of the 

 ovaries, since they convey the ova from the reproductive glands to the uterus. 

 They are not, however, in direct continuity with the glands, but rather partly in 

 contiguity with, and partly attached to, them.^ They are two flexuous tubes, 

 about ten to twelve inches (ca. 25 to 30 cm.) long, which extend from the extremities 

 of the uterine cornua to the ovaries. Each is inclosed in a ])eritoneal fold, derived 

 from the external layer of the broad ligament, and termed the mesosalpinx. This 

 largely covers the outer aspect of the ovary, and forms with it and the broad liga- 

 ment a pouch called the bursa ovarica. The uterine extremity of the tube com- 

 municates with the cavity of the cornu by a minute orific(>, the ostium uterinum. 

 The ovarian or fimbriated extremity is expanded into a funnel-shaped infundibuhim. 

 The margin of tlu^ latter is slit into irregular i)i-ocesses or fimbriae, some of which, 

 the fimbriae ovaricae, are attached in the ovulation fossa. In the center of the 

 fimbriated extremity is a small oi:)ening, the ostium abdominale, l)}- which the tube 

 communicates with the peritoneal cavity. The tube ai)pcars normallj' to be 

 applied to the ovary, so that the extrutled ova pass into it and are conveyed to the 

 uterus.- 



Pedunculated cysts, the hydatids of Morgagni, are often found on one or more of the 

 fimbriae. In the mesosalpinx are blind flexuous tubules, which constitute the parobphoron, a 

 remnant of the Wolffian body. They are most evident in the young adult, and tend to disappca'' 

 with increasing age. Not uuconunonl}- the\- give rise to cysts. 



Structure. — The tube is covered externally by a serous coat formed by the 

 mesosalpinx. The serous membrane is continuetl on the fimbria', and meets the 

 mucous lining on them. The fibrous coat or advcntitia is continuous with the 

 fibrous lamina of the broad ligament. The muscular coat consists chiefly of circti- 

 lar fibers, although longitudinal fibers occur externally. The mucous coat is 

 thin and is much plicated. The folds (Pliciie tul^aria?) are chiefly longitudinal, but 

 in the wide part of the tube (Ampulke tul)a?) they are very complex, so that on 

 cross-sections the spaces between the folds may be mistaken for branched tuljular 

 glands. The folds are continued on to the fimbrice. The epithelium is a single 

 layer of columnar ciliated cells, the cilia producing a current directed toward the 

 uterus. At the fimbriated extremity this epithelium passes gradually into the 

 squamous type of the serous coat. 



Vessels and Nerves. — The arteries are derived from the utero-ovarian artery. 

 The veins are satellites of the arteries. The lymphatics pass with the ovarian 

 vessels to the lumbar glands. The nerves have a similar origin to those of the 

 ovary. 



THE UTERUS 



The uterus is a hollow muscular organ, which receives the Fallopian tubes 

 anteriorly and opens into the vagina posteriorly. It is situated chiefly in the ab- 

 dominal cavity, but extends a short distance into the pelvic cavity. It is attached 

 to the lumbar wall of the abdomen and the lateral walls of the pelvic cavity by 

 two folds of peritoneum termed the broad ligaments. It consists of two cornua 

 or horns, the body, and the neck. 



The cornua or horns of the uterus (Cornua uteri) are situated entirely in 

 the abdomen. They appear to vary considerably in position; commonly they 



1 The Fallopian tubes may be regarded, both in structure and morphology, as prolongations 

 of the uterus (McMurrich). 



^ The arrangement is the only exception to the general rule that the serous cavities are 

 closed. In this case the mucous membrane of the fimbriated extremity is continuous with the 

 adjacent peritoneum, a persistence of the embryonic relations of the Miillerian duct. 



