1048 



THE FEMALE REPRODTTTTVE ORGANS 



The lateral or broad ligaments (lig. 6o9j, called als^o alae vespertilionis 

 from their fancied rer^enihhnue to the wings of a })at, are formed l)y a duphcattu-e 

 of peritoneum extending from the sides of the uterus and vagina transversely out- 

 wards to the sides of tlie pelvis. The two layers of peritoneum are continuous 

 above and form the free border of the fold, V)ut diverge laterally and below, where 

 they pass on to adjacent structures. Each ligament presents two surfaces and four 

 borders. The superior or free border is represented by the sunnnit of the plica- 

 tion, which turns around the oviduct and follows a sinuous course towards the side 

 of tiie pelvis, its outermost extremity lying external to the fimbriated extremity of 

 the Fallo]iian tube and forming a sliarp fold, the ligamentum infundibulo-pel- 

 vicum, which conveys the ovarian vessels. The internal border is attached to 

 the sides of the uterus and vagina, the two laminse separating to transmit the utero- 

 vaginal vessels, and muscular bands, wliich ])ass from the uterus into the peritoneal 

 fold. The inferior border is attached to the levator ani and recto-vesical fascia; 

 its laminae are separated by fat-bearing cellular tissue (subperitoneal) which gives 

 passage to vessels and nerves and to the ureter; and the anterior layer is much 

 shorter than the posterior, owing to the higher level of its point of reflexion. The 

 external border lies against the obturator fascia, and transmits the uterine vessels 

 and the round ligament. 



Fig. G39. — The Broad Ligamext axd its Contexts, seex feom the Feoxt. 



(Alter Sappey.) 



PAROVARIUM * 



— ■ FALLOPIAN TUBE 



AMPULLA OF FALLOPIAN TUBE 



EXTERNAL ANGLE OF UTERUS 



FIMBRIArED EXTREMITY OF TUBE 



FIMBRIA OVARICA 



Kound ligament 

 Ligament of ovary 



Anterior peritoneal lamina 



The structures enclosed between the two layers of the broad ligament 

 are: — (1) The ovary and its \igament, the former ])r()iccting from the posterior 

 lamina and invested by a modified epithelium; the latter, composed of unstriped 

 muscular fibre, passing between the side of the uterus and the inner or lower 

 extremity of the ovary. (2) The Fallopian tube, lying at the uj^per margin im- 

 mediately beneath the point of continuity of the two laminae; its outer fimbriated 

 extremity turned backwards and inwards to the ovary, and attached by one of the 

 fringes to the outer or lower end of the organ. It does not reach quite to the pelvic 

 wall. (3) The round ligament, a muscular band running dowuAvards and out- 

 w^ards, forming a ridge beneath the anterior lamina, and eventually passing to the 

 internal inguinal ring and through the inguinal canal into the labium. (4) Foetal 

 relics: (o) the epovarium, or epoophoron, a group of twelve to tAventy effete 

 tul)ules of the Wolllian liody lying close lo \\\v attached Ijorder of the ovary, bear- 

 ing a certain reseml)lance in plan to the vasa efYercntia of the testicle, and joining 

 a kind of collecting tul»e above, {h) The duct of Gartner, a canal representing 

 the lower ])art of the Wolfiian duct, is constant in certain animals (cow, etc.) as a 

 tube running on each side of the uterus and vagina, and opening at the lower end 



