176 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY. 



REPRODUCTION. 



Reproduction is the function by which the species is preserved, and 

 accomplished by the organs of generation in the two sexes. 



GENERATIVE ORGANS OF THE FEMALE. 



The Generative Organs of the Female consist of the ovaries, Fallo- 

 pian tubes, uterus and vagina. 



The Ovaries are two small, ovoid, flattened bodies, measuring one inch 

 and a half in length and three-quarters of an inch in width; they are situ- 

 ated in the cavity of the pelvis, and imbedded in the posterior layer of the 

 broad ligament; attached to the uterus by a round ligament, and to the ex- 

 tremities of the Fallopian tubes by the fimbrke. The ovary consists of an 

 external membrane of fibrous tissue, the cortical portion, in which are im- 

 bedded the Graafian vesicles, and an internal portion, the stroma, contain- 

 ing blood vessels. 



The Graafian Vesicles are exceedingly numerous, but situated only in 

 the cortical portion. Although the ovary contains the vesicles from the 

 period of birth, it is only at the period of puberty that they attain their full 

 development. From this time onward to the catamenial period, there is a 

 constant growth and maturation of the Graafian vesicles. They consist of 

 an external investment, composed of fibrous tissue and blood vessels, in the 

 interior of which is a layer of cells forming the membrana granulosa ; at 

 its lower portion there is an accumulation of cells, the proligerous disc, in 

 which the ovum is contained. The cavity of the vesicle contains a slightly 

 yellowish, alkaline, albuminous fluid. 



The Ovum is a globular body, measuring about the T | 5 of an inch in 

 diameter; it consists of an external investing membrane, the vitelline mem- 

 brane, a central granular substance, the vitellus or yelk, a nucleus, the 

 germinal vesicle, in the interior of which is imbedded the nucleolus, or 

 germinal spot. 



The Fallopian Tubes are about four inches in length, and extend out- 

 ward from the upper angles of the uterus, between the folds of the broad 

 ligaments, and terminate in a fringed extremity, which is attached by one of 

 the fringes to the ovary. They consist of three coats : (i) the external, or 



