1268 



UROGENITAL SYSTEM 



1. The Ovaries 



Form and position. — The ovaries [ovaria] are two whitish organs, situated 

 one on either side of the pelvic cavity. Each has somewhat the shape of an 

 almond (fig. 1026). It is attached by one of its edges [margo mesovaricus] to 

 the border of the mesovarium, and since it is along this line of attachment that 

 the vascular and nerve supply enters the substance of the organ, this border is 

 spoken of as the hilus [hilus ovarii]. The opposite border is free [margo liber]. 

 The larger rounded end is directed toward the free extremity of the tuba uterina 

 and hence is known as the tubal extremity [extremitas tubaria], while the other, 

 the uterine extremity [extremitas uterina], is directed toward the uterus; the two 

 surfaces, owing to their topographic relations, are know;n as the lateral and medial 

 surfaces [facies medialis et lateralis]. 



Fig. 1029. — The Female Pelvic Organs Viewed from Above. (Spalteholz.) 



Sigmoid colon 



Recto-uterine fold 

 / 



Parietal peri- 

 / toneum 



/ Ureter 



Suspensory 

 / ligament of 

 ovary 



Ovary 



Ampulla 



of tuba 



/ uterina 



^Rr 



/ 



Fundus of uterus 



Isthmus 

 of tuba 

 uterina 



^Ligamen- 

 tum teres 



Bladder 



Transverse vesical fold 



The exact position of the ovary in the pelvis is subject to some variation, but 

 typically it lies almost in a sagittal plane (fig. 1029) against the lateral wall of the 

 pelvis, resting in a distinct d(^pression, the /ossa ovarica, lined by peritoneum and 

 bounded above by the oxternal iliac vessels and behind by the ureter and uterine 

 artery, while beneath its floor are the obturator vessels and nerve. The long axis 

 of the ovary is almost vertical when the body is erect, the tubal pole being upward ; 

 the mesovarial border is directed forward and laterally, its free border dorsally 

 and medially while its surfaces look almost laterally and medially. 



Frequently, however, the uterus i.s displaced to one side, dragging the uterine extremity 

 of the oppo.site ovary (by tlie attachment of the ovarian hgament) toward the mid-plane. The 

 Ujng axi.s of the ovary thus becomes oblique, approaching more or less the horizontal. The as- 

 cending portion of the tuba uterina rests upon its mesovarial border and the fimbriated mouth 



