202 OVARY AND PAROVARIUM, BY W. WALDEYER. 



find in it, as in them, rounded or elongated epithelial masses, 

 imbedded in a stroma that serves as a support to vessels, and 

 we may even consider the liquor folliculi and the secondary 

 yolk to represent the secretion. 



It remains to discuss the further history of the Graafian 

 follicle, such as is seen in the process of ovulation, and in the 

 formation of the corpora lutea. Both processes stand, as has 

 long been imagined, but as has only recently been demonstrated 

 by Spiegelberg (109), in the most intimate relation to each 

 other. 



Every ripe Graafian follicle presents at its most prominent 

 part an elongated spot, free from bloodvessels and lymphatics 

 the hilum, stigma, or macula folliculi. At this point the wall 

 of the follicle gives way during the exit of the egg. The cir- 

 cumstances giving rise to the rupture are of two kinds : on the 

 one hand, as Spiegelberg has shown, an extensive fatty degene- 

 ration of the cells in the walls of the mature follicle occurs, and 

 secondly, we have the development of the corpus luteum, which 

 begins at a period long antecedent to the bursting of the follicle, 

 and constitutes an impelling force. This substance consists of a 

 considerable cell-growth, both from the sides of the lollicular 

 epithelium, and from the tunica propria folliculi ; amongst the 

 latter, numerous migrating cells occur, as I have ascertained 

 from injections made with granular colouring matter. Coinci- 

 dently with the migrating cells, vascular arcades project into 

 the cavity of the follicle, in consequence of which this space 

 becomes progressively diminished in size, and ultimately gives 

 way at the non-vascular and weakest part of the wall. The 

 ovum, and also in Mammals the liquor folliculi and the 

 discus proligerus, the latter adherent to the ovum, are then 

 set free. Whether there is in all instances a coincident dis- 

 charge of blood appears to me to be very doubtful, and 

 Pfliiger (84) also denies its occurrence. That the menstrual con- 

 gestion promotes rapid growth of the corpus luteum, and con- 

 sequently exerts a direct influence upon the discharge of the 

 ovum, is obvious from what has been already stated in regard 

 to the mode of formation of the corpus luteum. 



The corpus luteum first presents itself in a completely formed 

 state a, few weeks after the evacuation of the follicle; but 



