VISCERAL ANATOMY. 153 



Blood Supply. 



Uterine and utero-ovarian vessels. 



Nerves. 



Mesenteric and pelvic plexuses. 



THE OVIDUCTS, OR FALLOPIAN TUBES. 



The oviducts are two tubes, lying on either side of the uterus, 

 in the broad ligaments, which serve for the passage of the ovum 

 from the ovary to the uterine cavity, with which they are contin- 

 uous, and open into the cornua, by a narrowed orifice on a tuber- 

 cle. In its middle it is narrow, and at its ovarian extremity it is 

 dilated and divided into several narrow prolongations, the fim- 

 briated extremity, one of these communicating with the ovary. 



Structure. 

 Serous coat, from broad ligament. 



Muscular, of circular and longitudinal fibres. 



Mucous, continuous with that of the uterus, covered by ciliated 

 epithelium and thrown into longitudinal folds. 



THE OVARIES. 



The ovaries are two small ovoid bodies, situated in the sub- 

 lumbar region, with a deep notch or hilus on their upper surface 

 which receives the oviduct. Into this the ovum is discharged. 

 It is attached by the ovarian ligament to the uterus, and sup- 

 ported by the broad ligament. 



Structure. 



Serous coat, complete except at hilus. 



Fibrous coat (or tunica albuginea), very strong. 



Stroma, hard and grayish-red. Is divided into an external 

 cortical and internal medullary portion. 



Medulla, red and spongy, of connective .tissue and vessels. 



Cortex, of connective tissue, holding large numbers of Graafian 

 vesicles or ovisacs which contain the ova. In the fully formed 

 state they project on the surface and are composed of a tunica 

 fibrosa, tunica granulosa and discus proligerus, a collection of 

 cells about the ovum. 

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