ligaments of oviduct of domestic f*owe. iq 



Summary. 



This paper presents the results of a detailed anatomical study 

 A the ligaments of the oviduct of the domestic fow^l. 



It is shown that the dorsal and ventral ligaments undergo a 

 progressive change in shape and size relations as the oviduct 

 enlarges in preparation for functional activity. The character 

 of these changes is described. 



It is further shown that tlie ligaments of the oviduct possess 

 a definite and well developed musculature which is continuous 

 with the outer muscular layer of the oviduct. The physiology 

 of this musculature of the ligaments is now under investigation 

 in this laboratory. 



Finally it is shown that the mutual relations of the abdominal 

 viscera are such as virtually to form a "pocket" in which the 

 ovary lies. This walling off of the ovary is of such character 

 as to tend mechanically to direct detached ova to the mouth of 

 the oviduct. 



Description of Plates. 



Figure 6. A photograph of the ventral ligament of the ovi- 

 duct of a laying hen showing its form and musculature. The 

 ragged outer border is the cut dorsal margin, i. e., the margin 

 along the oviduct. The short smooth border in the center of 

 the photograph is the free ventral margin. The thin cut sur- 

 face extending from the ventral to the dorsal margin of the 

 ligament is the anterior margin cut along its attachment to the 

 posterior elongation of the funnel. The thick wedge-shaped 

 portion which shows at the opposite end of the ventral margin 

 is the caudal end of the ligament cut from the anterior end of 

 the uterus. This photograph is natural size. 



Figure 7. A photograph showing the form and nuisculature 

 of the funnel, a short portion of the tubular part of the oviduct, 

 and the anterior portion of both ligaments removed from a lay- 

 ing hen. The dorsal ligament is shown for about three-fourths 

 of its length. The lateral half of the oviduct is cut away along 

 the attaclimcnt of the ligaments. The glandular la)^er of the 

 duct was scraped away (cf. p. 0) in the tubular portion of the 

 duct leaving only the muscular and peritoneal layers. 



