VAGINA AND EXTERNAL FEMALE GENITALS. 263 



rugce. On their surface we find a stratified pavement epithe- 

 lium, under which there is a thin connective-tissue tunica 

 propria. At the external os of the uterus the flat epithelial 

 layers, which cover the portio vaginalis uteri, pass over into the 

 ciliated cylindrical epithelium of the cervix uteri. The tunica 

 propria possesses papillae which are rich in elastic fibres, and 

 contain quite numerous masses of lymphoid tissue, often gath- 

 ered into solitary follicles (noduli lymphatici vaginales). Ac- 

 cording to most authors, the vagina contains no glands, and the 

 mucous secretion found there is derived from the glands of the 

 cervix uteri. 



The submucosa which joins the mucosa loosely with the 

 muscularis consists of connective tissue characterized by its 

 richness in elastic fibres. 



The muscularis consists of an outer longitudinal and an 

 inner circular layer of smooth muscle cells. The latter is 

 usually not strongly developed. 



The fibrosa which surrounds the muscle coat contains 

 many elastic fibres and joins the vagina with the surrounding 

 tissues. 



The blood- and lymph-vessels form many plexuses par- 

 allel to the surface. The nerves enter the epithelial layer, 

 where they end freely. 



The hymen is a membranous reduplication of the vaginal 

 mucosa. Its inner surface is covered with epithelium, which 

 represents that of the vagina. The outer epithelial layer is 

 like that of the skin. The whole vestibule possesses similar 

 epithelium, with its outer cells non-nucleated. In the labia 

 minora there are sebaceous glands. 



The labia major a are covered with epithelium which is not 

 at all different from that of the skin in other parts of the body. 

 In the region of the clitoris and the urethral openings we find 

 numerous mucous glands (glandules vestibulares minores}. The 

 larger glands of the vestibule (glandulce vestibulares majores s. 

 glandules Bartholini] correspond with Cowper's glands in the 

 male, producing a similar mucous secretion. 



The clitoris resembles somewhat in structure the penis. 



