44 ANATOMY. 



The commissures are the parts uniting the labia above and 

 below. The superior or upper commissure is extended to a 

 sharp angle, and joins the perineum ; the lower portion is 

 rounded off, and is bounded by a hollow, at the bottom of 

 which is lodged the 



Clitoris. — This is brought into view immediately after 

 staling : it bears a close comparison to the head of the male 

 penis, and, like the latter, is susceptible of sensual enjoyment. 

 To the clitoris belong a pair of muscles named erector clitoris. 

 They take their origin from the perineum. Their office is 

 to erect that body, and protrude it into the vagina in the act 

 of coition. 



The internal parts are the vagina, uterus, Fallopian tubes, 

 fimbriae, and ovaria. The vagina is a musculo-membranous 

 canal, of large dimensions, extending from the vulva to the 

 uterus or womb. 



It is situated within the pelvis, having the bladder below 

 and the rectum above it, to both of which it has cellular 

 attachments, in addition to the reciprocal connection with 

 the peritoneum. To the rectum it is closely and firmly at- 

 tached by cellular membrane. 



The figure of the vagina, when it is distended, is that of 

 an oblong cylinder ; but in the collapsed state, its sides are in 

 contact, and it will vary its form according to the full or 

 empty condition of the bladder. The largest part of the 

 canal is the posterior j there it exceeds the dimensions of the 

 bladder. 



The length of the canal is about eighteen inches. Its 

 course is horizontal, and rather shows an inclination to the 

 curve of the rectum. 



The vagina, at its commencement from the vulva, is much 

 thicker in its walls than elsewhere ; in composition, it is 

 partly muscular and partly membranous. The orifice of it 

 is clothed in that strong, red, circular, fleshy band, which 

 forms the sphincter vagina ; and the adjoining part of the 

 canal is also encircled by some considerable fleshy covering, 



