560 THE TISSUES. 



presents numerous folds and elevations (columnse), and has a com- 

 pound scaly epithelium T 4 T to T J of an inch thick, like that of the 

 oesophagus; its scales being the largest in the body. Its corium is 

 very firm, and yet very extensible, and presents numerous conical 

 or filiform papillae (Fig. 389, c), ^ to T J^ of an inch in length, 

 and -g^Q to ? ^ of an inch broad, which are entirely imbedded in 

 the epithelium. They are very numerous at the lower part of the 

 canal, but diminish towards the 05 uteri. It has no glands at all, 

 except those at the entrance, already described (W. Tyler Smith 1 ). 

 The hymen is merely a duplicature of the mucous membrane of the 

 vagina, and contains the same elements. 



The bloodvessels of the vagina and vulva present no striking pe- 

 culiarities. The lymphatics of both are numerous, and communi- 

 cate partly with the inguinal glands, and partly with the pelvic 

 plexus. The nerves derived from the sympathetic and the pudendal 

 branches, are extremely numerous, especially in the clitoris ; and 

 are also easily found in the mucous membrane of the vagina, pre- 

 senting divisions also in both. Kolliker thinks he has also seen 

 loops in the rudimentary axile corpuscles of minute non- vascular 

 papillae on the clitoris. 



3. The uterus and oviducts (Fallopian tubes) consist of, 1, the 

 peritoneal coat, which presents nothing peculiar ; 2, the muscular 

 coat ; and 3, the mucous membrane. 



The muscular coat of the uterus is pale red, and consists of three 

 layers. 1. The external, is composed of longitudinal and transverse 

 fibres, the former intimately united to the peritoneum, extending 

 over the fundus and the anterior and posterior surfaces of the cer- 

 vix ; while the transverse fibres surround the organ, and to some 

 extent are continued into the round ligaments, and upon the Fallo- 

 pian tubes. 2. The middle layer is the strongest, presenting longi- 

 tudinal, 'transverse, and oblique flat fibres, and containing larger 

 vessels, chiefly veins; whence, especially in the pregnant uterus, it 

 presents a spongy -appearance. 3. The inner layer is also formed 

 of slender longitudinal, and stronger transverse and oblique fibres, 

 forming distinct rings at the commencement of the Fallopian tubes. 

 In the os uteri, highly developed transverse fibres lie immediately 

 under the mucous membrane constituting an occlusor of it (sphinc- 

 ter uteri). All these layers are pervaded by a great quantity of 



1 On the Pathology and Treatment of Leucorrhoea, pp. 20 29. 



