IXTKIiXAL oiiOAXS (>F (1 f^XRUArmx. 



V?i 



from that of the Mare, except that the body is short (its interior space 

 beinfT also much less than in the Mare's uterus), and it does not extend 

 so far into the latter cavity. If the uterus were perfectly horizontal, a 

 transverse line drawn across the abdomen, in front of the external aii^^e 

 of the ilium, would be exceeded to the extent of some one and a half to 

 two inches by the extremities of the cornua ; so that if the animal were 

 placed on its back, the uterus would only be found to reach to the 

 fourth or fifth lumbar vertebra. 



With regard to shape, however, the uterus of this animal offers some 

 noteworthy features. For instance, the concave curvatures of the 

 cornua look downwards, whereas in the Mare they are in the opposite 

 direction ; though in both the broad ligaments are attached to tliis con- 

 cavity. The consequence is, that in the Cow, if the uterus be considered 

 as freely suspended in the cavity of the abdomen, the extremity of the 

 horn is twisted outwards and upwards ; while its base near the body of 



Aj\)/H' 



Fig. 23. 

 A, Utricular (!Iand of a i>regDant (loat. 



Fig. 24. 

 B, Utricular Oland of a preLrnaiit Cnw. 



the organ, although drawn in the same direction by the ligaments, yet 

 retains its position, being firmly maintained in it by the body of the 

 uterus, which also receives the insertion of the broad ligaments on its 

 loiccr plane. This insertion causes the uterus to project above them ; 

 while in the Mare, in which the ligaments are inserted at the upper part 

 of the body, the uterus projects below them. In tlie Cow these liga- 

 ments are very extensive, particularly at their anterior border, and 

 widely separated from one another in front near their lumbar attach- 

 ment, which is prolonged as far as the flank. The ligaments, taken as 

 a whole, may be compared to a triangular sheet, one angle of wiiich is 

 fixed to the floor of the pelvis, and the other two to the tuberosities of 

 the ilia ; on this sheet rests the body of the uterus and a portion of the 

 cornua. This peculiarity in the suspensory apparatus of the uterus of 

 the Cow explains the occurrence of torsion of the organ during preg- 

 nancy — an accident to which reference will be made hereafter. 



