Gatenby — Notes on the Human Ovary, 67 



supposed to be a sufficient evideuee of pregnancy or of previous child-bearing. 

 It is on record that Aberuethy and Sir Astley Cooper in a court of law swore 

 away the innocence of a dead woman because one of her ovaries contained a 

 corpus luteun:. 



The human ovary, like that of most, if not all, mammals, exhibits a cortical 

 and a medullary zone. The young eggs lie strictly within the cortical zone, 

 while both the corpora lutea and the corpora albicantia abut into, or lie mainly 

 within, the medullary zone ; most of the corpora albicantia are to be found in 

 the medullary region of the ovary. According to the results obtained by me 

 with orcein, and resorcin fuschsin, no elastic tissue is present in the ovary, 

 with the natural exception of that within the arteries. The walls of the 

 Graafian follicle and of the corpus luteum do not contain elastin fibres. The 

 process of ovulation appears to be brought about by turgor within the antrum 

 foUiculi, and not by the collapse of connective tissue or muscle fibres. 



I must take this opportunity of thanking various of my friends who have 

 looked at my sections, and given an opinion on doubtful points. Among 

 these gentlemen I must mention especially Professor H. Pringie and 

 Professor A. C. O'SuUivan. 



J I. — General Outline of the Formation of the Human Corpus Luteum, 



The manner of formation of the human corpus luteum has been elucidated 

 by various observers, and is shortly as follows. The Graafian follicle contains 

 a cavity — the antrum foUiculi, which, after ovulation has taken place, 

 collapses partly, though not so completely as in some of the lower mammals. 

 The sudden release of pressure within the antrum foUiculi, brought about by 

 the partial escape of the liq^uor foUiculi, together with mechanical rupture of 

 certain blood capillaries of the membrana granulosa (vel follicle epithelium of 

 zoologists), causes a slight haemorrhage into the antrum foUiculi. >Some lymph 

 probably exudes into this cavity, but in some examples the blood-clot is said 

 to be absent ; in this case the cavity of the follicle is completely filled by 

 lymph or tissue exudate, and not by blood. In those cases where the antrum 

 foUicuU becomes fiUed with mixed blood and exudate, the position of the old 

 Graafian follicle is marked outwardly by the presence of a little blood-clot 

 on the surface of the ovary. Human embryologists declare that this 

 cicatricial clot is not always present, but in rats and guinea-pigs taken at the 

 right moment it is always present, so far as my knowledge goes. 



Now, just before ovulation, the theca interna becomes organized into a 

 layer of polygonal cells, which Ue ready immediately to invade, organize, and 

 vascularize the membrana granulosa cells. Outside the theca interna layer is 



[J/ 2] 



