1176 



DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 



primitive mesocolon to the posterior abdominal wall. It is generally found over the bifur- 

 cation of the iliac vessels. The pouch is funnel-shaped, and the opening looks downward and 

 to the left. It varies in depth from 2.5 to 3.7 cm., and is rarely the seat of the sigmoid hernia. 



The rectum. — The rectum, according to the BNA nomenclature, is recognised 

 as a division separate from the large intestine. The term rectum is now limited 

 to that portion of the bowel below the mid-sacral region, where the mesocolon 

 ceases. It is divided into two portions: the first extends downward and forward, 

 in front of sacrum and coccyx, to the level of the pelvic floor; the second portion 

 (the anal canal) extends from this point downward and backward to the anus 

 (figs. 937, 938). 



Fig. 938. — Mid-sagittal Section of the Female Pelvis. (Spalteholz.) 



Hypogastric artery 



/ Hypogastric vein 

 / / Infundibulum of tuba uterina 



Parietal peritoneum 



Suspensory ligament of ovary 



External iliac vein 

 Ovary \ 

 \ 



Ampulla of tuba uterina ^ \ 

 Ovarian ligament \ 

 Fundus uteri \ \ 



Ligamentum teres \ ^^ 



Transverse fold of \ \ ^~^ 

 bladder ^ \ \ 



Vertex of bladder \ \ ^^ 

 Middle umbilical \ \ 

 ligament 



Uterus 

 Internal os uteri 



Recto-uterine fold 



Recto-uter- 

 / ine (recto- 

 vaginal) pouch 



Urachus 

 Symphysis pubis 



Labium majus ' 

 Body of uterus ' 

 Labium minus 



External orifice of urethra 



Urethra ,• / 

 Internal orifie of urethra / 

 Orifice of vagina 



Coccyx 



* Recto-coccy- 

 geus muscle 



\ Rectum 

 Posterior labium 

 \ External os uteri 

 Anterior labium 



Hymen 



Anus 

 Vagina 

 Vesico-uterine pouch 

 Vestibule 



The upper or first portion of the rectum is about 10 cm. long, and is concave 

 forward [flexura sacralis] except at the lower end where it curves backward and 

 downward [flexura perincalis] to join the second portion. The lower part of the 

 fir-st portion often presents a dilation [ampulla recti], due to accumulation of 

 faces. This ])art is sometimes described as the infra-peritoneal portion of the 

 rectum proper. 



Anteriorly, tlio rectum is in contact with coils of ileum and, in the male, with the trigone of 

 the l)l;i(i(lcr, (lie vcsicula; seminales, ductus dcfcrcntcs, and posterior aspect of the prostate (fig. 

 937). In tlie female, it is in contact anteriorly with the vagina and the cervix uteri (fig. 938). 

 Posteriori !j, it is in contact with the sacrum, coccyx and ano-coccygcal body. 



In the male, a small band of muscle fibres, the rcclo-urelhral muscle, extends from the per- 

 ineal flexure of the rectum to the membranous urethra. 



