THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. 221 



Fig. 199. 







Section of corpus luteum four days after coitus. Rabbit. The proliferating connective 

 tissue has nearly filled the cavity of the follicle, only a small mass of fibrin remaining 

 in its centre. The young connective tissue is highly vascularized, the blood in some of 

 the capillaries being represented, g. ke, germinal epithelium. Below is the margin of a 

 Graafian follicle, with its membrana granulosa. 



muscular coat are situated. This is followed by an internal mus- 

 cular coat of encircling bundles of smooth muscular tissue, inside 

 of which is the submucous coat of areolar tissue, containing a few 

 scattered ganglion-cells. 



The mucous membrane consists of a highly cellular connective 

 tissue covered with ciliated columnar epithelium. During life these 

 cilia propel toward the uterine cavity substances coming into con- 

 tact with them. Toward and at the fimbriated extremity of the 

 tube the mucous membrane is thrown into deep longitudinal folds 

 (Fig. 200), upon which are numerous secondary and tertiary folds, 

 but further toward the uterus these folds give place to branching 

 villous projections into the lumen (Fig. 201). Toward the uterine 

 end of the tube these complicated folds and villi disappear and the 

 lumen of the tube becomes round or stellate. 



3. The Uterus. — The external surface of the uterus, throughout 

 most of its extent, is covered by a reflection of the peritoneum. 

 Beneath this are three distinct coats of smooth muscular tissue, the 



