1052 THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 



(3 mm.), the dilated portion or ampulla measures about a third of an inch 

 (8 mm. ), and the terminal expansion exclusive of its fringes has a width of about 

 a quarter to a third of an inch, the free fimbriti? ranging in length from two-fifths 

 to three-fifths (10 to 15 mm.) of an inch, while the fimbria ovarica attains an 

 inch or even two inches (2 "5 to 5 cm.). Accessory fimbriated extremities are occa- 

 sionally met with. 



The direction of the oviduct traced from its uterine attachment is transversely 

 outwards as far as the middle of the ovary; beyond this point the tul)e winds in a 

 fiexuous course Ixickwards and inwards around the gland in the manner described 

 beldw. 



Structure. — The tube has four coats — serous, cellular, muscular, and mucous. 

 The serous coat, represented by the fold at the free border of the broad ligament, 

 is incom})lete, like that of the small intestine, the muscular tunic being micovered 

 by peritoneum for about one-fourth or one-fifth of its circumference along the line 

 of attachment of the two serous laminae, and hence a rupture of the duct may lead 

 to an escape of its contents either into the peritoneal cavity or into the interserous 

 space. The cellular coat is a kind of adventitia, rich in vessels, and continuous 

 with the sul)i)eritoneal tissue of the broad ligament. The muscular coat, about 

 the sixtieth of an inch in thickness, consists of circular and longitudinal filjres; the 

 latter for the most part sparingly distributed outside the former, Init near the outer 

 extremity of the tube appearing also as an innermost layer. The circular layer 

 is most attenuated near the fimbriated extremity. The mucous membrane is 

 characterised mainly by its plications. The folds are longitudinal in direction, and 

 relatively simple in the isthmus, where the cavity appears as a stellate fissure when 

 cut across; but in the ampulla the multiplication of surface is ver}' complex, and 

 in a transverse section presents a deceptive appearance of branching tubular glands 

 within the depth of a thick mucosa. At the fimbriated extremity of the tulje, the 

 jDlications are continued on to the fringes. The epithelium is cylindrical and 

 ciliated, the motion being towards the uterus. At the trumpet-shaped extremity it 

 passes by transition into the pavement epithelium of the serous memljrane. The 

 subepithelial tissue contains a longitudinal muscularis mucosa. 



THE OVARIES 



The ovary (fig. 635) is a paired organ which projects strongly from the posterior 

 surface of the broad ligament. Its longest diameter averages an inch and a half, its 

 greatest breadth about three-quarters of an inch, its thickness about half an inch; 

 and its weight is ordinarily aljout 100 grains. The right is usually a little larger 

 than the left. 



Form, position, etc. — The typical shape resembles that of a broad almond. 

 In anatomical preparations it appears as a horizontal appendage to the back of the 

 broad ligament with an anterior attached border, a posterior free border, superior 

 and inferior surfaces, an inner extremity connected with the utero-ovarian liga- 

 ment, and an outer extremity receiving the fimbria ovarica of the Fallojuan tube: 

 it is most probal)le however that the position is different when the organs are in 

 situ under normal circumstances. Symington in his examination of frozen sections 

 in children found the ovary lying in a sagittal plane against the side wall of the 

 pelvis with its long axis nearly vertical, so that its surfaces were internal and 

 external, its borders anterior and posterior, and its extremiti(>s upper and lower, 

 while the Fallopian tulje ran upwards along the anterior attached border of the 

 gland, then arching l)ackwards above its upjjer extremity to end in the fimbriae; 

 and where the fimbriae are fully developed they may embrace the ])osterior free 

 border, and thus the tube is wound almost completely around the gland, leaving 

 only the lateral surfaces exposed. The external surface is said to lie against the 



