;2 



THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



Moreaux^ has investigated the changes undergone in the 

 Fallopian tube of the rabbit. He finds that the epithelial cells 

 discharge a mucous secretion during heat. The discharged eggs 

 become surrounded by a thick mucous envelope. During the periods 

 of rest the cells are inactive. 



The human uterus consists of two parts, the corpus or body-of- 

 the uterus, and the cervix or neck, which opens into the vagina. 



Fig. 4. — Section of a cornu of a rabbit's uterus (diagrammatic). 



s, Serous layer ; Im, longitudinal muscle fibres ; cm, circular muscle fibres ; a, 

 areolar tissue with large blood-vessels ; mm, muscularis mucosse ; m, mucosa. 

 (From Schafer.) 



The body of the uterus contains the following layers, which correspond 

 with those of the Pallopian tubes: (1) A serous layer; (2) a thick 

 muscular layer, consisting of two (some say three) more or less 

 blended sub-layers ; and (3) a still thicker layer, known as the 

 mucous membrane or mucosa (sometimes called the endometrium), 

 which is composed of a connective tissue containing spindle-shaped 

 cells, and is lined by a ciliated epithelium bounding the uterine 

 cavity. The mucosa contains numerous tubular glands, which open 



^ Moreaux, " Kecherches aur la Morphologie et la Fonction Glandulaire de 

 I'Epithflium de la Trompe uterine ohez les MummithTea," Arch. d!Anat. Miq., 

 vol. xiv. 



