986 FEMALE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 



position, two semilunar folds, which are sometimes called respectively, the 

 anterior and the posterior ligaments of the uterus. The former are also 

 named the vesico-uterine, and the latter, which are more marked, the recto- 

 uterine folds. 



Fig. 686. T5 



Fig. 686, A. SECTION OP THE GLANDULAR STRUCTURE OP THE HUMAN UTERUS AT THE 

 COMMENCEMENT of PREGNANCY (from E. H. Weber), f 



a, part of the cavity of the uterus showing the orifices of the glands ; d, a number of 

 the tubular glands, some of which are simple, others slightly convoluted and divided at 

 the extremities. 



Fig. 686, B. SMALL PORTION OP THE UTERINE Mucous MEMBRANE AFTER RECENT 

 IMPREGNATION, SEEN FROM THE INNER SURFACE (from Sharpey). ^ 



The specimen is represented as viewed upon a dark ground, and shows the orifices of 

 the uterine glands, in most of which, as at 1, the epithelium remains, and in some, as at 

 2, it has been lost. 



The broad ligaments (ligamenta lata) are formed on each side by a fold of 

 the peritoneum, which is directed laterally outwards from the anterior and 

 posterior surfaces of the uterus, to be connected with the sides of the pelvic 

 cavity. Between the two layers of the serous membrane are placed, first, 

 the Fallopian tube, which, as will be more particularly described, runs along 

 the upper margin of the broad ligament ; secondly, the round ligament, 

 which is in front ; thirdly, the ovary and its ligament, which lie in a 

 special offshoot of the ligamentum latuin, behind ; and, lastly, blood- 

 vessels, lymphatics, and nerves, with some scattered fibres from the super- 

 ficial muscular layer of the uterus. The ligament of the ovary is merely a 

 dense fibro-areohir cord, containing also, according to some authorities, 

 uterine muscular fibres, and measuring about an inch and a half in length, 

 which extends from the inner end of the ovary to the upper angle of the 

 uterus, immediately behind and below the point of attachment of the 

 Fallopian tube ; it causes a slight elevation of the posterior layer of the 

 serous membrane, and, together with the ovary itself, forms the lower limit 

 of a triangular portion of the broad ligament, which has been named the 

 ala vespertilionis or bat's wing. 



The round ligaments are two cord -like bundles of fibres, about four or five 

 inches in length, attached to the upper angles of the uterus, one on either 

 side (ligamentum teres uteri), immediately in front of the Fallopian tube. 

 From this point each ligament proceeds upwards, outwards, and forwards, to 

 gain the internal inguinal ring ; and after having passed, like the spermatic 

 cord in the male, through the inguinal canal, reaches the fore part of the 

 pubic symphysis, where its fibres expand and become united with the 



