The Pelvis. 277 



The Fallopian Tube, about four and a half inches 

 in length, is narrow where it is attached to the uterus, but 

 trumpet-shaped, externally, and surrounded, at this end, 

 by fringes termed fimbrise. This fimbriated end has a 

 diameter of about one-third of an inch, and the opening in 

 its middle is termed the ostiutn abdominale and is about 

 one-twentieth of an inch in diameter. The Fallopian tube 

 has four coats serous, cellular, muscular (circular and 

 longitudinal), and mucous, the latter being plicated and 

 covered with ciliated epithelium, the motion of which is 

 directed towards the uterus. 



The Vagina extends from the vestibule, below, to 

 the vault, above, in which is received the cervix of the 

 uterus, and is directed upwards and slightly backwards so 

 as to form an angle of ten or fifteen degrees with the long 

 axis of the body. The two walls of the vagina are of un- 

 equal length, the anterior being about two and a half 

 inches, and the posterior about three and a half inches in 

 length. 



Relations. In front are the bladder and the 

 urethra, separated from the vagina by loose areolar tissue. 

 This separation does not extend farther downwards than 

 the upper third of the urethra since the lower two-thirds 

 of this structure is intimately adherent to the anterior sur- 

 face of the vagina. Behind, is the rectum, separated from 

 it, above, by the reflection of peritoneum which lies be- 

 tween the rectum and the posterior wall of the vagina for 

 the distance of about one inch, and which forms the pouch 

 of Douglas ; while the middle of the posterior wall is 

 separated from the rectum by connective tissue, and the 

 lower part by the perineal body. In the latter situation, 

 i.e., in the neighborhood of the perineal body, the vagina 

 and rectum diverge, so that, in a sagittal section, the peri- 

 neal body is seen to be triangular in shape. Laterally, 



