THE UTEEUS 



419 



Many leucocytes are found in the tunica propna, but these mostly 

 occur in the vicinity of the lymphatics and smaller blood vessels 

 with which the uterine mucosa is abundantly supplied. In the 

 mucosa of the cervix uteri the development of the connective 

 tissue appears to be more advanced, the cellular elements being 

 relatively fewer ; it also contains many fine fibres which appear to 

 form a delicate network. At the external os uteri the tunica 

 propria is continuous with the similar, though still more fibrous, 

 layer of the vaginal mucosa. 



The uterine glands are divisible into two types those of the 

 body of the organ, and those of its cervix. The former are, per- 

 haps, to be regarded as tubular invaginations of the lining epithe- 



FIG. 339. FROM A TRANSECTION OF THE UTERINE MUCOSA. 

 x 16. (After Williams.) 



lium, whose function is one of epithelial regeneration rather than 

 of glandular secretion. The tubules of the cervix uteri are true 

 mucus secreting glands. 



The uterine glands proper, those of the body of the organ, are 

 slightly branched or forked tubules which traverse the entire 

 breadth of the mucosa, presenting a characteristic spiral or cork- 

 screw course their blind extremities are often bent or turned to 



