THE UTERINE TUBES 1269 



of the tube is in contact with its medial surface. When, enlarged the ovary may be felt through 

 lateral wall of the vagina and, better, through that of the rectum; and its position with regard 

 to the surface may be indicated by a point midway between the anterior superior spine of the 

 ilium and the symphysis pubis or the opposite pubic tubercle. 



The position assumed by the ovary is due to its attachment to the edge of 

 the mesovarium and to the upper portion of the broad hgament being broader 

 than the diameter of the pelvis, so that it is folded back upon the lateral walls of 

 the cavity. In addition to its attachment to the broad ligament through the 

 mesovarium, the ovary is also connected to the side of the uterus by the ovarian 

 ligament [hg. ovarii proprium] (fig. 1026), a band of connective tissue with which 

 numerous non-striped muscle fibres are intermingled. It hes between the two 

 layers of the broad ligament, on the boundary line between the mesosalpinx and 

 the mesometrium, and extends from the uterine pole of the ovary to the side of the 

 uterus. Here it is attached just below the origin of the tuba uterina and above 

 the point of attachment of the round ligament of the uterus, with which it is 

 primarily continuous. Another ligament, termed the suspensory ligament of the 

 ovary (figs. 1029, 1034), extends laterally between the two layers of the broad 

 ligament from the tubal extremity of the ovary to the pelvic walls, forming the 

 lateral portion of the lower boundary of the mesosalpinx. It is formed by the 

 vessels and nerves (internal spermatic) passing to and from the ovary, and from 

 the point where it meets the lateral pelvic wall it may be traced upward for some 

 distance upon the posterior wall of the abdomen, behind the peritoneum, which it 

 elevates into a more or less distinct fold, whose lateral wall on the right side 

 becomes continuous above with the peritoneum lining the subcoecal fossa. 



Size. — The size of the ovary varies considerably, that of the right side being as a rule 

 somewhat larger than that of the left. The length may be anywhere from 2.5 cm. to 5.0 cm., the 

 breadth about half the length and the thickness half the breadth. Its average weight in the 

 adult is from 6.0 to 8.0 grms., but in old age it may fall to 2.0 grms. 



Structure. — The ovary is covered by a layer of columnar epithelium which is continuous 

 with the peritoneal epithelium along the line of the attachment of the mesovarium; the ovary 

 consequently is not covered by peritoneum, but is rather to be regarded as a local thickening 

 of the peritoneum. Its substance is a network of connective tissue, in which non-striped 

 muscle fibres also occur, and is known as the stroma. The more central portions of this are 

 largely occupied by blood-vessels but in the cortical portions are multitudes of immature ova, 

 surrounded by their follicle cells [folliculi oophori primarii]; and also numbers of cavities of 

 various sizes, lined with follicle cells and filled with fluid, each containing an ovum [ovulum] 

 in a more or less advanced stage toward maturity. These are the Graafian follicles [folliculi 

 oophori vesiculosi (Graafi)], and as they ripen they increase in diameter and approach the 

 surface, upon which they may form marked prominences. When mature the follicles burst, 

 allowing the escape of the ovum, scars being thus formed upon the surface of the ovary that are 

 known as corpora albicantia. If, however, the ovum becomes fertilized and pregnancy results 

 the walls of the follicle undergo a remarkable development, forming what is known as a corpiis 

 luteum. 



Epoophoron and paroophoron. — Closely associated with the ovaries are two rudimentary 

 organs situated between the layers of the mesosalpinx and representing remains of the meso- 

 nephros of the embryo. The larger of these is the epoophoron (fig. 1030). It consists of a longi- 

 tudinal duct [ductus epoophori longitudinalis (Gartneri)], lying parallel with the tuba uterina 

 and closed at either extremity, and 10-15 transverse ducts [ductuli transversi], which open 

 into the longitudinal duct. It is the remains of the upper or reproductive portion of the meso- 

 nephros and therefore is the homologue of the epididymis of the male. In addition there is fre- 

 quently to be found in the neighbourhood of the epoophoron and close to the mouth of the tuba 

 uterina one or more stalked, oval cysts, the appendices vesiculosi {hydatids of Morgagni), which 

 may reach the size of a small pea. 



The other organ is the paroophoron; it is much smaller than the epoophoron and usually 

 disappears before adult life, but when present consists of a small group of coiled tubules, more 

 or less distinct, representing a portion of the excretory portion of the mesonephros. Its equiva- 

 lent in the male is therefore the paradidymis. 



Vessels and nerves. — The chief artery is the ovarian, which together with the ovarian veins 

 and lymphatics passes to the ovary in the suspensory ligament. An additional blood supply 

 is furnished by the ovarian branch of the uterine artery. The veins foUow the course of the 

 arteries. As they emerge from the hilus they form a well-developed plexus {pampiniform 

 plexus) between the layers of the mesovarium. Unstriped muscle fibres occur in the meshes 

 of the plexus and the whole structure has much the appearance of erectile tissue. The ly7n- 

 phatics accompany the blood-vessels and terminate in the lumbar nodes. Nerves pass to the 

 ovary with the ovarian artery from the renal and aortic sympathetic plexus. 



2. The Tub^ Uterine 



The tubae uterinae or Fallopian tubes (figs. 1026, 1030) serve to convey the 

 ova to the uterus. They are two trumpet-shaped tubes, structurally continuous 



