648 ABDOMEN 



uterine plexus are present in addition to those mentioned 

 in the description of the male pelvis. 



The uterine plexus proceeds from the pelvic plexus. It 

 ascends between the layers of the broad ligament, along the 

 uterine artery, and is distributed to both aspects of the uterus. 



The vaginal plexus is also an offset from the pelvic plexus, 

 and the nerves which compose it are derived mainly from 

 the visceral branches which enter the pelvic plexus from 

 the third and fourth sacral nerves. 



The ovarian plexus is derived from the aortic and renal 

 plexuses. It accompanies the artery of the same name, and is 

 distributed to the ovary. 



Dissection. When the blood-vessels and the visceral nerve plexuses 

 have been examined the pelvic viscera should be removed. The vessels 

 and nerves passing to them must be cut ; the visceral layer of pelvic 

 fascia on the upper surface of the levator ani must be divided, from before 

 backwards, and stripped medially from the upper surface of the muscle. 

 Finally, the rectum must be separated from the upper end of the anal canal, 

 and then the viscera can be removed. When this has been done the 

 structure of the walls of the viscera should be studied. 



Structure of the Uterus. The uterus possesses three 

 well-marked coats a serous or peritoneal, a muscular and a 

 mucous. The serous covering has already been fully studied 

 (p. 623). The muscular part of the wall constitutes its chief 

 bulk. It is composed of involuntary muscular tissue with a 

 considerable admixture of areolar tissue. It is not equally 

 thick throughout and is relatively thin towards the angles 

 or points where the uterine tubes open into the uterus. 



The mucous membrane which lines the cavity is not of 

 uniform appearance. In the body of the uterus it is smooth 

 and closely bound to the adjacent muscle. In the cervix 

 it presents a striking arrangement, which from its appearance 

 has been termed the arbor vita. This consists of a series 

 of prominent folds or rugae, plicce palmate, arranged in a 

 definite manner. There is a median fold both on the 

 anterior and on the posterior wall of the canal, and secondary 

 folds branch off from each of these and pass obliquely 

 upwards and laterally. The arbor vitse is better marked on 

 the anterior than on the posterior wall. Between the plicae 

 palmatse the dissector may discover some minute vesicles 

 filled with yellowish fluid; these are the ovula Nabothi. 

 They result from the obstruction of the mouths and the 



