DISSECTING MANUAL. 



Its surfaces, internal and external, are flattened; the Fallo- 

 pian tube almost covers the inner. Its posterior border is con- 

 vex and free; the vessels and nerves enter its straighter and 

 narrower anterior border (hilus). [1182] 



Connections. A triangular peritoneal fold (suspensory liga- 

 ment), part of the broad ligament, ascends from its upper pole 

 over the external iliac vessels and Psoas. A mesentery (mesova- 

 rium) derived from the broad ligament, and containing the 

 vessels and nerves, joins the whole anterior border. A rounded 

 cord (ligament of the ovary) runs in a fold of the posterior 

 layer of the broad ligament, from the lower pole to the lateral 

 angle of the uterus behind and below the end of the Fallopian 

 tube. A large fimbria (ovarian) of the Fallopian tube often 

 joins its upper pole. [1183] 



Structure. It is solid, consisting chiefly of connective tis- 

 sue, and is covered by a layer of epithelium. Near the surface 

 are numerous vesicles (Graafian follicles) of various sizes, 

 containing the ova. The cavity of a ruptured follicle is at first 

 (corpus luteum) filled with yellowish cellular tissue and blood ; 

 later on this degenerates, atrophies, and becomes whitish (cor- 

 pus albicans). [1184] 



Fallopian Tubes. Each tube is about four and a quar- 

 ter inches long and enclosed in a fold (mesosalpinx) of the 

 broad ligament. In the free end (fimbriated extremity) the 

 small pelvic orifice (ostium abdominale) lies at the bottom of 

 a funnel-shaped expansion (infundibulum) whose margins 

 have many irregular processes (fimbrise). The fimbrisc are 

 covered internally with mucous membrane and one (ovarian 

 fimbria), usually the largest, is connected with the upper pole 

 of the ovary. At the ostium abdominale begins the (ampulla) 

 widest and longest part of the tube; this ends in a thicker- 

 walled part (isthmus) which is attached to the lateral angle of 

 the uterus. The last part (pars uterina) runs through the uter- 

 ine wall and ends in a narrow orifice. The calibre of the tube 

 diminishes from without inward. [1185] 



[242] 



