70 



THE WAY LIFE BEGINS 



the attendant severs close to the body of the child. The 

 animal mother instinctively cuts this cord with her teeth. 

 The placenta, together with parts of the uterus wall which, 



FIGURE 10 



The relation of the human embryo to the uterus of the mother is shown in the diagram. 

 The two oviducts or egg-tubes I, lead into the uterus. The uterus, during the time the child 

 is being carried, may be divided into two main portions: the solid muscular wall II, and a 

 spongy interior lining III. The blood vessels from the 'mother IV, penetrate the lining, 

 enabling the circulation V,from the embryo VI, to obtain nourishment from the mother and 

 to transfer to her waste materials. The embryo itself, VI, floats, at this stage in a liquid 

 within a cavity VIII. In reality there is no open space as represented at IX, the membrane 

 covering the embryo pressing close upon the walls of the uterus. At birth the mouth of the 

 uterus X, is greatly expanded to permit the passage of the child. 



After the birth of the child the two portions of the uterus mentioned above divide along the 

 line indicated by VII, and the inside portion passes out of the uterus as the afterbirth. 



thus united, form a solid mass, soon passes out after the 

 birth of the child. (Figure 10.) 



Birth is a difficult thing for both mother and child. Mam- 

 mal and human embryos grow in a fluid which gives them no 

 opportunity to practice breathing and probably little in 



