776 GENERATION. 



they turn downward and backward. The extremity next the ovary is marked 

 by ten to fifteen fimbriae, or fringes, which have given this the name of the 



llopian tube (Richard). 



fimbriated extremity, or morsus diaboli. All of these fringe-like processes 

 are free except one ; and this one, which is longer than the others, is attached 

 to the outer angle of the ovary and presents a little gutter, or furrow, extend- 

 ing from the ovary to the opening of the tube. At this extremity, is the 

 abdominal opening of the tube, which is two or three times larger than the 

 uterine opening. Passing from the uterus, the caliber of the tube gradually 

 increases as the tube itself enlarges, and there is an abrupt constriction at 

 the abdominal opening. 



Beneath the peritoneal coat, which is formed by the layers of the broad 

 ligament, is a layer of connective tissue, containing a rich plexus of blood- 

 vessels. This constitutes the proper, fibrous coat of the Fallopian tubes. 



The muscular layer is composed mainly of circular fibres of the non-stri- 

 ated variety, with a few longitudinal fibres prolonged over the tube from the 

 external, muscular layer of the uterus. This coat is quite thick and sends 

 bands between the layers of the broad ligament, to the ovary. 



The mucous membrane of the tube is thrown into folds, which are longi- 

 tudinal and transverse near the uterus and are more complicated at the dilated 

 portion. In this portion, next the ovary, embracing about the outer two- 

 thirds, the folds project far into the caliber of the tube. These are some- 

 times simple, but more frequently they present secondary folds, often meet- 

 ing as they project from opposite sides. This arrangement gives an arbores- 

 cent appearance to the membrane on transverse section of the tube. The 

 mucous membrane is covered by cylindrical ciliated epithelium, the move- 

 ment of the cilia being from the ovary toward the uterus. The membrane 

 of the tubes has no mucous glands. 



It is not necessary to give a minute description of the external organs of 

 the female. Opening by the vulva externally, and terminating at the neck 

 of the uterus, is a membranous tube, the vagina. This lies between the blad- 

 der and the rectum. It has a curved direction, being about four inches (10 



