ON THE POSITION AND PERITONEAL RELATIONS OF 

 THE MAMMALIAN OVARY. 



By Arthur Robinson, M.B., CM. Edin., Demonstrator of Anatomy 

 in the Owens College. 



[Plate IV.] 



The mammalian uterus is either double, as in monotremes and 

 marsupials ; single, as in monkeys and man ; or it consists of a body 

 and two diverging cornua, as in the majority of mammals. 



It is always attached to the abdominal wall by means of a peri- 

 toneal fold called the broad ligament. In the case of the bicornuate 

 uterus, each cornu is attached to the dorsal wall of the abdomen by 

 a broad ligament, which extends forward beyond the extremity of 

 the uterine cornu as far as the diaphragm. 



The broad ligament consists of two layers of peritoneum, between 

 which the vessels and nerves of the uterus, the Fallopian tube, and 

 the ovary are placed. 



The dorsal edge of the fold is attached to the inner surface of the 

 dorsal wall of the abdomen, and, along the line of attachment, the 

 two layers become continuous with the general peritoneal lining of 

 the abdominal cavity. The other edge of the fold is placed ventrally, 

 and hangs free in the abdominal cavity. One surface of the ligament 

 looks toward the mesial plane of the body, the other toward the 

 lateral wall of the abdomen. It may, however, be modified, and be 

 shortened until it is practically limited to the pelvis, as in the human 

 f cm ale. 



