VESSELS OF THE UTERUS. 491 



There is an indubitable growth of the nerves also during 

 pregnancy (W. Hunter, Tiedemann, Remak, and others), and, 

 according to Kilian,the double-contoured nerves may be followed 

 further in pregnancy than in the virgin state. 



The bloodvessels of the uterus proceed from the arterise 

 uterina hypogastrica and uterina aortica (Luschka), and from 

 the arteria spermatica externa. The veins unite to form two 

 plexuses, the plexus uterinus, and the plexus pampiniformis. 



The two first-named arteries meet together upon the lateral 

 surface of the uterus, forming an arch from which vessels of 

 moderate size penetrate into the muscular layer, speedily branch, 

 anastomose with the arteries of the opposite side,* surround 

 the muscular fasciculi, and from thence extend to the mucous 

 membrane. They form here, after surrounding the glands 

 with capillaries, an irregular plexus of wider vessels in close 

 proximity to the surface, from which thin- walled veins with- 

 out valves arise. 



A much more regular arrangement of the vessels occurs in 

 the cervix, and they here present disproportionately thick 

 walls, so that the lumen only amounts to about one -third of 

 the total diameter (Henle). Towards the cavity of the 

 cervix the vessels run vertically to the surface in the septa 

 between the mucous glands, and form a very superficial 

 capillary plexus, from which a vascular loop ascends into 

 each papilla. Externally, towards the labia, and extending 

 through the muscularis as far as to the mucous membrane, are 

 delicate, often slightly tortuous, or, in the upper parts, spirally 

 twisted arteries, which form the capillary plexus immediately 

 beneath the epithelium which supplies the papillae with loops, 

 and from which the returning veins again take origin. 



The bloodvessels attain perfectly colossal dimensions after con- 

 ception, which is principally owing to the hypertrophy and new 

 formation of these contractile elements. 



The lymphatics form large plexuses in the peripheric layers 

 immediately beneath the peritoneum in the pregnant uterus. 

 The lymphatics proceeding from the body of the uterus ex- 



* Hyrtl, Topograph. Anatomie, 1860, Band ii.. n. 180. 



