Cervicitis 



615 



shown that with breeding the cervical mucosa becomes tume- 

 fied, and hypertrophied, and finally portions of it evaginate 

 through the os uteri externum. The prolapsed portions 

 are described by anatomists as the lips of the cervix. As a 

 matter of fact they are the hypertrophied rugae of the first 

 annular fold of the cervical mucosa and are not visible in 

 the healthy virgin heifer. The actual os uteri externum, 

 covered with vaginal mucosa, is forced aside by the hyper- 

 trophied first annular ring. The true lips of the os uteri 



Fig. 194— Vaginal Ends of Cervices. 



Numerals indicate lips of original os uteri externum ; letters signify 



protrusion of the first annular folds in varying degrees. 



In /, 2, and 5, the fold does not protrude. 



externum finally form a pale-colored girdle about the base 

 of the prolapsed portion of the cervical mucosa. Here, 

 often one to several inches from the vaginal extremity of 

 the cervical canal, the pavement epithelium of the vagina 

 ends and the cervical epithelium with its intricate and ela- 

 borate mucous glands succeeds. The secretions of the two 

 areas are wholly unlike. The protruding cervical mucosa, 

 like that remaining within the cervical canal, takes the 

 leading part in the elaboration of the thin mucus of estrum 

 and, in pregnancy, of the uterine seal. 



