4i 6 SURGICAL APPLIED ANA TOMY. [Chap. xvm. 



are of frequent occurrence. The vagina is very vascular, 

 and wounds of its walls have led to fatal haemorrhage. 

 It is very dilatable, as can be shown when the canal 

 is plugged to arrest haemorrhage from the uterus. 



The uterus weighs about one ounce. The uterine 

 cavity and the cervical canal together measure about 

 two and a half inches. This must be borne in mind 

 when passing a uterine sound. The blood-vessels run 

 transversely to the length of the uterus, so that a 

 ligature may be placed completely around the organ 

 without affecting the circulation above or below. 



The unimpregnated uterus is very rarely wounded, 

 owing its imimmity to the denseness of its walis, to 

 its small size, to its great mobility, and to its position 

 within the bony pelvis. 



The ovary is so placed that the outer part of 

 the Fallopian tube turns downwards external to it. 

 " Both ovaries lie in a sagittal plane against the side 

 walls of the pelvis, with their long axes nearly 

 vertical ; so that their surfaces are internal and 

 external, borders anterior and posterior, and ex- 

 tremities upper and lower " (Symington). The main 

 ovarian vessels lie close to the outer part of the 

 organ, after passing along a short fold of peritoneum, 

 which runs from the brim of the pelvis to the ovary, 

 and is termed the infunclibulo-pelvic ligament. This 

 ligament forms the outer part of the pedicle in 

 ovariotomy. 



The rectum in the adult is situated entirely 

 within the true pelvis, and presents three marked 

 curves, one in the lateral and two in the antero- 

 posterior direction. (See page 347.) In the infant, 

 however, a good deal of the rectum is in the 

 abdominal rather than the pelvic cavity, the gut is 

 nearly straight, and occupies a more or less vertical 

 position. For these reasons, together with the fact 

 that the sacrum is straight, the prostate small, and 



