THE FEMALE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 241 



have been described as existing in the mucous membrane of 

 the glans penis. 



Beneath the mucous membrane of the clitoris are found the 

 corpora cavernosa and glans ; the latter is in connection with 

 both bulbi vestibuli, which correspond to the corpus spongio- 

 sum urethrse of the male. These structures consist of erectile 

 or cavernous tissue, which, like that in the penis, is made up of 

 a vascular network, mostly venous in character, and erectile in 

 nature ; they are also surrounded by a fibrous tunic analogous 

 to the tunica albuginea of the penis. 



The vestibule has its mucous membrane, which is a con- 

 tinuation of the mucous membrane of the clitoris, thrown into 

 a number of folds. Opening upon its surface are numerous ori- 

 fices of racemose mucous glands. These glands are collected 

 into groups around the orifice of the urethra and vagina. They 

 consist of branched ducts, which at their deeper parts are de- 

 veloped into a number of acini ; they are lined with a simple 

 epithelium ; at their orifices they have the laminated pavement- 

 epithelium of the mucous surface. These glands vary in diame- 

 ter between 0.5 mm. to 2.5 mm. The vessels of the vestibule 

 form a network near the mucous surface, and are connected to 

 the capillary loops in the papillae. 



Opening upon each side of the vaginal entrance is the orifice 

 of the duct belonging to the gland of Bartholine. These or- 

 gans, two in number, are analogous to Cowper's glands in the 

 male. They belong to the racemose group, and are composed 

 of ducts and acini, which have an epithelium lining of cylin- 

 drical cells. 



The hymen consists of a duplicature of the mucous mem- 

 brane of the vagina. Its laminated epithelium is similar to 

 that of the vestibule. The papillae are numerous, long, simple 

 or multiple, and project from 0.2 to 0.3 mm. into the epithelial 

 covering. The vascular and nervous supply is very abundant. 



The vagina consists of an external coat of connective tissue, 

 a middle coat of muscular tissue, and an internal mucous coat. 

 The mucous membrane is uneven, thrown into ridges and papil- 

 lary elevations, which are especially well-marked in the neigh- 

 borhood of the vaginal entrance. The epithelium lining the 

 canal is a laminated pavement-epithelium, into which the vas- 



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