372 ABDOMEN 



the wall of the vagina. In front of the urethra, between it 

 and the clitoris, the two halves of the bulb are brought into 

 direct communication with each other by a venous plexus called 

 the pars intermedia, which, in turn, is continuous with the 

 erectile tissue of the glans clitoridis. To obtain a proper idea 

 of these connections, it is necessary to study specimens which 

 have been specially injected and prepared. 



The arrangement of erectile tissue in the female corre- 

 sponds, more or less closely, with the condition present in the 

 male. The apparent dissimilarity is due to the presence of 

 the urogenital fissure and orifice of the vagina. Suppose, 

 for a moment, that the latter is obliterated and that the 

 vestibule is closed in the form of a canal which carries 

 the urethra forwards to the extremity of the clitoris. The 

 two halves of the bulb would then be in contact with each 

 other, and its entire surface would be covered by a muscular 

 stratum, after the manner of the bulb and bulbo-cavernosus 

 in the male. Further, the urethra would be surrounded 

 by erectile tissue, and \.\\Q pars intermedia would correspond, 

 to some extent, to that portion of the corpus cavernosum 

 urethrae which, in the male, lies in front of the bulb and 

 becomes continuous with the glans. 



Dissection. If the stitches uniting the lips of the pudendal cleft have 

 not been already removed they should now be taken away. The crura 

 clitoridis have been exposed by the removal of the ischio-cavernosus muscles. 

 To obtain a good view of the entire organ, strip the mucous membrane from 

 the body of the clitoris, and clear away the loose tissue which surrounds it. 

 In doing this, however, remember that on its dorsal aspect certain vessels 

 and nerves run forwards to reach the glans, and that suspending it from the 

 front of the pubes there is the suspensory ligament. 



Clitoris. The body of the clitoris is a cylindrical mass of 

 erectile tissue called the corpus cavernosum clitoridis, it is homo- 

 logous with the structure that bears the corresponding name 

 in the male. Along the middle line it is partially separated 

 into two lateral halves by an imperfect septum. The body 

 of the clitoris, which is about an inch and a half long, is bent 

 in a downward direction on itself at the lower border of the 

 symphysis pubis. Anteriorly it terminates in a small rounded 

 tubercle, which bears the name of the glans clitoridis. The 

 glans, however, is not structurally continuous with the corpus 

 cavernosum. It is a little mass of erectile tissue continuous 

 with the pars intermedia, and fitting into a slight concavity 

 which is formed for its reception on the extremity of the 



