754 EMBRYOLOGY 



union of male with female cells, the power of the resulting cell to per- 

 petuate itself is secured. 



FEMALE ORGANS OF GENERATION 



A knowledge of certain points in the anatomy of the female organs 

 of generation is essential to a comprehension of the most important of 

 the processes of reproduction. Following a fruitful intercourse, the 

 function of reproduction, as regards the male, ceases with the compara- 

 tively simple process of penetration of the male element through the 

 protective covering of the ovum and its fusion with the female element. 

 The fertilized ovum then passes through certain changes, forms 

 attachments to the body of the mother, continues its development and 

 is nourished and grows, until the foetus at term is brought into the 

 world. 



The female organs of generation are divided anatomically into inter- 

 nal and external. The external organs are the vulva, the adjacent parts 

 and the vagina. The internal organs are the uterus, Fallopian tubes 

 and the ovaries. The ovaries are the true female organs, in which alone 

 the female element can be produced. The Fallopian tubes and the 

 uterus are accessory in their uses, the female element, the ovum, pass- 

 ing through the tubes to the uterus, where it forms the attachments to 

 the body of the mother that are essential to its nourishment and full 

 development. 



The vagina has a direction, slightly curved anteriorly, that is nearly 

 coincident with the axis of the outlet, or the inferior strait of the pelvis. 

 Projecting into the vagina, at its upper extremity, is the lower part of 

 the neck of the uterus. The uterus extends from the vagina nearly to 

 the brim of the pelvis. It is situated between the bladder and the rec- 

 tum, and has an antero-posterior inclination when the bladder is moder- 

 ately distended, which brings its axis nearly coincident with that of the 

 superior strait of the pelvis. With the body erect, the angle of the 

 uterus with the perpendicular is about forty-five degrees. 



The uterus is held in place by ligaments, certain of which are formed 

 of folds of the peritoneum. The anterior ligament is reflected from the 

 anterior surface to the bladder ; the posterior ligament extends from the 

 posterior surface to the rectum ; the round ligaments extend from 

 the upper angle of the uterus, on either side, between the folds of the 

 broad ligament and through the inguinal canal, to the symphysis pubis ; 

 the broad ligaments extend from the sides of the uterus to the walls of 

 the pelvis. 



The uterus and the broad ligaments partially divide the pelvis into 

 two portions ; and these ligaments, which consist of a double fold of 



