188 



THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM. 



the course of menstruation is at short intervals cast off and 

 grows anew. 



The uterine glands are numerous tubular glands, mostly 

 simple and unbranched, extending perpendicularly from the 

 surface of the mucosa to the muscular coat. Their deeper 

 portions are convoluted, their superficial portions more 



FIG. 73. 



Section throrugh wall of a rabbit's \iterus (Schiifer). m, mucosa (the cilia of the 

 epithelium are not shown) ; a, muscular coat ; s, peritoneum. 



straight. They are lined by a continuation of the simple 

 ciliated epithelium of the mucous surface. Their function is 

 not so much secretory as to serve as foci for the regeneration 

 of the epithelium after menstruation. 



The muscular coat makes up the bulk of the uterine sub- 

 stance. It consists of layers and fasciculi of non-striated 



