UROGENITAL SYSTEM. 



the uterus it contains muscle fibre ; its lower end is connective 

 tissue only. [1190] 



Position. The uterus lies with its large end upward and 

 usually bent to one side, between the rectum and bladder, sep- 

 arated from the rectum by peritoneum and from the bladder 

 by peritoneum above and connective tissue below. The cervix 

 is comparatively fixed and the body bends on this with the 

 movements of the bladder, on which its anterior surface rests. 

 The ureters run downward, inward, and slightly forward on 

 each side of, but three-fourths of an inch from, the cervix. On 

 either side of the cervix and upper vagina are large vessels ly- 

 ing in loose fatty tissue (parametrium). [1190] 



Structure. There are three coats, from without inward as 

 follows : serous (perimetrium) ; muscular, forming the chief 

 bulk and containing connective and elastic tissue in its deeper 

 layers ; and mucous. [1191] 



Vagina. This passage runs downward and forward from 

 the uterus, curving slightly with the convexity backward; it 

 opens into the urogenital cleft between the labia minora, be- 

 hind the urethral orifice and clitoris ; the angle between its axis 

 and that of the uterus is somewhat more than a right angle. 

 Its anterior wall is three inches long, and its posterior three and 

 a half; it is widest at its middle part. Normally the anterior 

 and posterior walls are in contact; on transverse section, the 

 lower part is an H-shaped cleft and the middle part a trans- 

 verse slit, while the lumen of the upper part is more open. 

 Between the infra- vaginal part of the cervix and its upper end 

 is a recess which is deeper behind (posterior fornix) than lat- 

 erally (lateral fornix) or (anterior forriix) in front. Its lower 

 orifice is partly closed in the virgin by a thin fold (hymen), 

 which persists after rupture as torn fragments (carunculse 

 hymenales) round the orifice. [1192] 



Relations. The anterior wall is connected with the base of 

 the bladder above, by connective tissue, and with the urethra 

 below. The posterior wall is covered by peritoneum (pouch 



[245] 



