Chap. XXI] THE ORGANS OF GENERATION 447 



vided with numerous mucous glands, and is covered with ciliated 

 epithehum. 



Blood supply of uterus. — The uterus is abundantly supplied 

 with blood-vessels. The blood reaches the uterus by means of 

 the uterine arteries from the internal iliacs, and the ovarian ar- 

 teries from the aorta. Where the neck joins the body of the uterus, 

 the arteries from both sides are united by a branch vessel, called 

 the circumflex artery. If this branch is cut during a surgical opera- 

 tion, or a tear of the neck during parturition extends so far as to 

 sever it, the hemorrhage is very profuse. The arteries are re- 

 markable for their tortuous course and frequent anastomoses. 

 The veins are of large size, and correspond in their behavior to the 

 arteries. 



Position of the uterus. — The uterus is not firmly attached or ad- 

 herent to any part of the skeleton. It is, as it were, suspended in 

 the pelvic cavity, and kept in position by ligaments. A full 

 bladder pushes it backward; a distended rectum, forward. It 

 alters its position, by gravity, or with change of posture. During 

 gestation it rises into the abdominal cavity. 



The fundus of the uterus is inclined forward, and the external 

 orifice is directed downward and backward. (See Fig. 206.) 

 Anteversion is the condition where the fundus turns too far forward. 

 Retroversion is the condition where the fundus inclines backward. 

 A bend may exist where the neck joins the body, and if the body 

 is bent forward, it is described as anteflexion ; if bent backward, 

 retroflexion. 



Ligaments. — The uterus is maintained in position by five 

 ligaments. Three are arranged in pairs. 



1. The broad, or lateral ligaments, two in number, are folds 

 of peritoneum slung over the front and back of the uterus, and 

 extending laterally to the walls of the pelvis. They are composed 

 of two opposed, serous layers, and between these layers are found 

 the following structures : (a) Fallopian tubes ; {h) the ovaries 

 and their ligaments ; (c) the round ligaments ; {d) blood-vessels 

 and lymphatics ; (e) nerves ; (f) some smooth muscle-fibres. 



The posterior fold covers the back of the uterus, and extends far 

 enough below to also cover the upper one-fifth of the back wall 

 of the vagina, when it turns up and is reflected over the anterior 

 wall of the rectum. Thus the uterus, with and between its two 



