THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. 



223 



in mind that at the extremities of these glands the whole tubule is 

 often filled with epithelial cells, so that no lumen is visible. In 

 their course into the mucous membrane these glands are usually 

 straight at first, but in their deeper portions become tortuous (Figs. 

 202 and 203). 



Fig. 201. 



-cr«v 





Transverse section of the Fallopian tube near its free end. (Orthmann.) Numerous branch- 

 ing villous projections of the wall, covered by ciliated colum r epithelium, extend into 

 the lumen. The open spaces in these villous projections are sections of the bloodvessels. 



During the childbearing period of life the portion of the mucous 

 membrane resting upon the muscularis mucosa? is the seat of active 

 changes which pass through a cycle corresponding to each men- 

 strual period, but interrupted by a special series of changes during 

 pregnancy. These changes are of importance in their bearing upon 

 the pathology of the organ, and must be briefly described. 



At the menstrual period the superficial portion of the mucous 

 membrane, down to its muscular coat, suffers a degeneration, which 

 results in its disintegration and discharge, along with some blood 

 derived from the exposed and damaged vessels of small size within 

 its tissues. After this degeneration the membrane is restored by a 



