FEMALE fiEXfTAL ORGAXS 



1129 



on the border of the fakiforiu jjiocess of the great sacro-sciatic ligament passing 

 between the altove-mcntioned bones. 



The pelvic fascia and its chief hiyers are shown in fig. GOT. These are 

 described at page 1060. The following main points will readily be seen: That 

 the fascia has one important aspect towards the pelvic, and another towards the 

 ischio-rectal fossa and periiiieum, and thus may be interfered with during opera- 

 tions, or affected by inflammation arising in either region. That its numerous 

 processes and sheaths, while tiiey serve to isolate different structures, are continu- 

 ous, and that thus septic mischief may, as in the neck, sjiread most widely. With 

 this fact go two other points: one, that with the ])lanes of this fascia run layers of 

 connective tissue; the other, that in the spaces tightly girt by this fascia lie large 

 venous plexuses, e.g. vesical, hiemorrhoidal, i)r(;static. and, if se])tic mischief 

 reach these plexuses, it is out of reach of surgical treatment. The closeness of the 

 fascia to the hip-joint will also be seen. In children with a thin acetabulum and 

 hi{) disease this fascia becomes much thickened, thus shutting off the pelvic cavity 

 from supj)uration in the joint. 



FEMALE EXTERNAL GENITALS 



Under the above heading are included, for convenience sake, the hxhia majora 

 and minora at the sides; and, in the middle line, from above downwards: — (1) The 

 glans clitoridis with its prepuce; (2) the vestibule; (3j the urethral orifice; (4) the 



Fig. 698. — Diagrammatic Rkprksextatiox ok the Peri.v.kal Stkictt'res 



IX the Female. 



ISCHIO-PUBIC ARCH 



CRUS CLITORIDIS WITH 

 ISCHIO-CAVERNOSUS 



BULBO-CAVERNOSUS 

 COVERING BULBUS 

 VESTIBUU 



Superficial trian- 

 gular ligament 



GLANS CLITORIDIS 

 WITH PREPUCE 



PARS INTERMEDIAL 3 



Mucous membrane 

 of vestibule 



MEATUS URINAR'-JS 



BULBUS VESTlBULI 



_ GUND OF BARTHQLN 



Sphincter act 



vaginal orifice with the hymen or its remains; (5) the fossa navicularis; (G) the 

 fourchette; (7) the skin over the base of the perina?al body. 



These parts have l)een described elsewhere, and only those points which are of 

 importance in a clinical examination will be alluded to here. 



The labia majora are two thick folds of skin, covered with hair on their outer 

 surface, especially above where they unite (antirior roij}mis.-<ure) in the mons 

 Veneris. They contain fat, vessels, and dartos, but become rajndly thinner l>elow. 

 where thev are continuous mtli the fourcliette in front of the perinannu (their 

 posterior commissure ). 



When the above folds are drawn aside, the labia minora, or nymphae, a])]>ear. 



