1130 



SURGICAL AXD TOPOGRAPHICAL AXATOMY 



not projecting, in a healthy adiiU, beyond the labia majora. They are small folds 

 of skin, which meet al)ove in the prepuce of the clitoris, and below blend with the 

 labia majora about their centre. 



The glans clitoridis, covered by its prepuce, occupies the middle line above. 



Below it comes the vestibule, a triangular smooth surface of mucous membrane, 

 bounded above by the clitoris, below by .the upper margin of the vaginal orifice, and 

 laterally by the labia minora. In the middle line of the vestibule and towards its 

 lower part, about half an inch (12 mm.) below the glans clitoridis, and an inch (25 

 mm.) above the fourclu'tte, is the meatus or opening of the urethra (figs. G98, 699). 



The vaginal orifice lies in the middle line between the base of the vestibule 



Fig. 699. — Section of the Female Pelvis. (After Henle.) 



VESICAL WALL 



CAVITY OF BLADDER 



Prevesical fat 



Deep transver- 

 Bus perinaei 



LABIUM MAJUS 

 Unetriped muscular fibre 



URETHFA 

 LABIUM MINUS 

 UuBtriped muscular fibre ' I'essi-ls 

 VAGINAL ORIFICE 



ANUS 

 Internal sphincter ani 

 Part of external sphincter ani 



RECTUM 



COCCYX 



Recto-cocey- 

 geal muscle 



POSTERIOR LIP OF OS 



UTERI 

 ANTERIOR LIP 



VAGINA 



External 

 sphincter ani 



Internal 

 sphincter ani 



above, and the fossa navicularis below. Its orifice is partially closed in the virgin 

 by a fold of mucous membrane, the hymen (fig. 631 ). This is usually crescentic in 

 shape, attached below to the posterior margin of the vaginal orifice, and with a free 

 edge toAvards the base of the vestibule. In some cases it is diaphragmatic, i.e. 

 attached all around, but perforated in the centre (fig. 698). 



The shrivelled remains of the hymen ])robably constitute the carunculae 

 myrtiformes. On either side of the vaginal orifice, at its lower ])avt. he the 

 racemose, muciparous glands of Bartholin, situated beneath tlie sujierficial ])erina>al 

 fascia and sphincter vaginae. Their ducts run slightly ui)wards and open, external 

 to the attachment of the hymen, Avithin the labia minora. 



Fourchette and fossa navicularis. — The fourchette, as stated above, is the 

 lower commissure of the labia majora. Normally the inner aspect of this is in 



