REPRODUCTION. 



655 



The vulva is a general term for all the portions of the female 

 generative organs visible from the exterior. Over the front of 

 the pelvis the skin is elevated by adipose tissue beneath it, and 

 forms the mom Veneris. From this two folds of skin (I, Fig. 

 188), the labia major a, extend downwards and backwards on 

 each side of a median cleft, beyond which they again unite. 

 On separating the labia majora a shallow genito-urinary sinus, 

 into which the urethra and vagina open, is exposed. * At the 

 upper portion of this sinus lies the clitoris, a small and very 

 sensitive erectile organ, resembling a miniature penis in struc- 

 ture, except that it has no corpus spongiosum and is not 

 traversed by the urethra. From the clitoris descend two folds 

 of mucous membrane, the nymphce or labia internet, between 

 which is the vestibule, a recess containing, above, the opening 

 of the short female urethra, and, below, the aperture of the 

 vagina, which is in the virgin more or less closed by a thin 

 duplicature of mucous membrane, the hymen. 



FIG. 189. k section of a Mammalian ovary, considerably magnified. 1, outer 

 capsule of ovarv 2 3 3', atroma; 4, blood-vessels; 5, rudimentary Graaflan fol- 

 licles: 678 follicles bejdnninff to Pnlargp and mature, and receding: from the sur- 

 face; 9 a nearly ripe follicle which is extending towards the surface preparatory to 

 discharging the ovum; , membrana granules*: b. discus proifgernfl: c, ovum, with 

 d. ^prminal vesicle, and e. eprminal snot. The general cavity of thf follicle (in 

 which 9 is printed) is filled with lymph-like, transudation liquid during life. 



Microscopic Structure of the Ovary. The main mass of 

 the .ovary consists of a dense connective-tissue stroma, con- 

 ta'ninof unstriped muscle, blood-vessels, and nerves; it is 

 covered externally by a peculiar germinal epithelium, and con- 

 tains imbedded in it many minute cavities, the Graafian folH- 

 r7/x, in which omlie. If a thin section of an ovary be examined 

 the microscope many hundreds of small Graafian follicles, 



