828 THE FEMALE GENITAL TRACT. 



the discharged ovum is impregnated and the rupture of the 

 follicle followed by pregnancy. The difference between a false 

 corpus luteum (after menstruation) and a true corpus luteum (after 

 pregnancy) consists only in the number of medullary corpuscles 

 and the amount of pigment present. The coloring matter has 

 the characteristics of haematoidin, and gives the corpus luteum a 

 yellow tint. This color gradually fades, till at last all pigment 

 is absorbed, and only the shreds of the basement or elastic mem- 

 brane of the former follicle are left behind, imbedded in cica- 

 tricial fibrous connective tissue, the shrinkage of which causes a 

 retraction at the surface of the ovary. The folded, homogeneous 

 shreds are easily recognizable under the microscope by the deep 

 carmine stain which they take up. 



According to Bischoff, in most instances the formation of the 

 follicles and the ova is completed in foetal life or during the first 

 few years after birth, and it is doubtful whether a new formation 

 occurs in more advanced age. Out of the enormous number of 

 follicles Henle estimated in the ovary of a girl eighteen years 

 old thirty-six thousand probably many never reach full devel- 

 opment. Beginning from early childhood, however, during the 

 procreative period all stages of development of follicles and 

 ova are found in the ovaries, the more fully developed lying in 

 the deeper portions of the cortical substance. Upon reaching 

 maturity the follicles occupy the whole width of the cortex, and 

 even slightly protrude from the surface. The ovary after the 

 menopause shows no follicles, but only dense, fibrous connective 

 tissue, with a varying amount of the remains of follicular base- 

 ment-membranes. 



The connective tissue of the ovary is accumulated at its 

 center, in connection with the hilus, through which the larger 

 blood-vessels enter the stroma. The connective tissue is com- 

 posed of interlacing bundles, plentifully supplied with smooth 

 muscle-fibers. Only the peripheral portion of the ovary, the 

 cortex, contains the follicular formations, and, at least in young 

 individuals, the connective tissue of the cortex, between the fol- 

 licles, is of the myxomatous variety. In older persons it has 

 the character of fibrous tissue, which is most abundant at the 

 periphery in the shape of a dense capsule. Such a tunica albu- 

 ginea does not exist around the ovaries of children or of young 

 animals (Waldeyer). 



The Mood-vessels of the ovary penetrate the hilus through the 

 broad ligament ; the largest amount of blood-vessels is found in 



