BLADDER AND URETHRA IN FEMALE. 541 



miiller). On holding up the broad ligament of the uterus to the light, a 

 collection of small tortuous tubules will be seen between the ovary and the 

 Fallopian tube. This is the remnant of the upper part of the Wolffian 

 body of the foetus ; it is about one inch broad, with its base to the Fallo- 

 pian tube, and apex to the attached part of the ovary. The small tubes are 

 from twelve to twenty in number ; at the wider end they are joined more 

 or less perfectly by a tube crossing the rest, which is prolonged sometimes 

 a short way into the broad ligament. Each tube is a closed fibrous capsule 

 with a clear fluid within, and with a lining of epithelium. 



FALLOPIAN TUBES (fig. 187, e). Two in number, one on each side, 

 they convey the ova from the ovaries to the uterus, and correspond in 

 their office with the vasa deferentia in the male. 



Each is about four inches in length : cord-like at the inner end, where 

 it is attached to the upper part of the uterus, it increases in size towards 

 the outer end, and terminates in a wide extremity (/), like the mouth of 

 a trumpet. This dilated end is fringed, and the pieces are called fimbricp.. 

 When the fimbriated end is floated out in water, one of the processes (g) 

 may be seen to be connected with the outer end of the ovary. In the centre 

 of the fimbriae is a groove leading to the orifice of the Fallopian tube. 



On opening the tube with care, the size of the contained space, and its 

 small aperture into the uterus can be observed. Its canal varies in size at 

 different spots: the narrowest part is at the orifice into the uterus (ostium 

 uterinum), where it scarcely gives passage to a fine bristle; towards the 

 outer end it increases a little, but it is rather diminished in diameter at 

 the outer aperture (ostium abdominale). 



Structure. This excretory tube has the same structure as the uterus 

 with which it is connected, viz., a muscular layer covered externally by 

 peritoneum, and lined by mucous membrane. 



The muscular coat is formed of an external or longitudinal, and an in- 

 ternal or circular layer ; both these are continuous with similar strata in 

 the wall of the uterus. 



The mucous membrane forms some longitudinal folds, particularly at the 

 outer end. At the inner extremity of the canal it is continued into the 

 mucous lining of the uterus, but at the outer end it joins the peritoneum. 

 A columnar and ciliated epithelium covers the surface, as in the uterus, 

 and is said by Henle to be detected on the outer surface of the fimbriae. 



The bloodvessels and nerves are furnished from those supplied to the 

 ovary and uterus. 



THE BLADDER, URETHRA, AND RECTUM. 



BLADDER. The peculiarities in the form and size of the female bladder 

 have been detailed in the description of the connections of the viscera of 

 the female pelvis (p. 513). For a notice of its structure, the anatomy of 

 the male bladder is to be referred to (p. 524). 



Dissection. To prepare the bladder, distend it with air, and remove 

 the peritoneal covering and the loose tissue from the muscular fibres. 



After the external anatomy of the bladder, and urethra has been learnt, 

 they are to be slit open along the upper part. 



tlRETHRA. The length and the connections of the excretory tube are 

 given in page 512. 



The average diameter of the urethra is rather more than a quarter of an 

 inch, and the canal is enlarged and funnel-shaped towards the meek of the 



