GENERATIVE SYSTEM. 305 



organ ; to preserve its equilibrium during gestation; and to aid 

 in retaining it in its proper centrical situation. 



Structure. — Underneath the peritoneal tunic of the uterus, 

 intimately united with it by a short cellular tissue, is a dense 

 fibrous structure, possessing a considerable degree of sfrengtii 

 and extensibility, and generally considered to be muscular : and 

 the fibres certainly assume that appearance, though their direc- 

 tion is very various, some running circularly, others deeper- 

 seated longitudinally, and others again decussating these. But, 

 about the cervix in particular, where the fibres ai'e strongest, 

 most collected, and often have a pale bloody tinge, the muscular 

 structure is palpable. Still, however, were this disputed, proofs 

 of its muscularity might be drawn from a physiological as well 

 as an anatomical source. During the period of gestation, this 

 tunic not only experiences considerable extension, but may be 

 proved to undergo veritable accretion. Inwardly, the muscular 

 is opposed and adherent to the internal tunic; but their connex- 

 ion, which is also cellular, is looser than that existing between 

 it and the peritoneal covering. 



Caviti/. — The cavity of the uterus, having the same irregular 

 form as the exterior, has three outlets — one of considerable 

 magnitude communicating with the vagina, through the os uteri ; 

 two others of very small size, through the extremities of the 

 cornua, leading into the Fallopian tubes ; the situations of which 

 are denoted by two little whitish eminences visible upon the in- 

 ternal surface. The membrane lining the cavity is one of the 

 mucous description. It assumes a more vascular and villous as- 

 pect than that coating the vagina, but, like it, is thrown in the 

 collapsed state of the organ into numerous rugee, which pervade 

 the cornua as well as the body, and bear some comparison to an 

 irregular network : these rugae are larger and looser in mares who 

 have bred foals. The surface is every where copiously furnished 

 with mucous secretion by subjacent follicles, whose orifices are 

 here visible to the naked eye. 



OF THE FALLOPIAN TUBES. 



The Fallopian tubes are two trumpet-shaped or conical 

 canals, running with a remarkably serpentine course, within the 

 folds of the ligamenta lata, from the extremities of the cornua 

 uteri to the ovaries. 



Course. — The tube on either side commences by an aperture 

 in the cornu, encircled by an elevated whitish margin, which is 

 scarcely large enough to admit a small silver probe : froui this 

 it proceeds forward, folded in peritoneum, extremely convoluted 

 in its course, until it reaches the ovary, to which it becomes 

 R r 



