612 



GENITAL ORGANS OF THE BITCH 



GENITAL ORGANS OF THE BITCH 



The ovaries (Fig. 442) are small, elongated-oval in outline, and flattened. 

 The average length is a little less than an inch (ca. 2 cm.). Each ovary is commonly 

 situated a short distance (ca. 1-2 cm.) behind, or in contact with, the posterior pole 

 of the corresponding kidney, and thus lies opposite to the third or fourth lumbar 

 vertebra, or about half way between the last rib and the crest of the ilium. The 



right one lies between the right part of the 

 duodenum and the lateral abdominal wall. 

 The left one is related laterally to the spleen. 

 Each is concealed in a peritoneal pouch, the 

 bursa ovarii, which has a slit-like opening 

 ventrally. The two layers which form this 

 pouch contain a quantity of fat and unstriped 

 muscle. They are continued to the cornu of 

 the uterus, constituting the mesosalpinx and 

 the ligament of the ovary. The surface of 

 the ovary presents prominences caused by 

 projecting follicles. Many follicles contain 

 several ova. There is no distinct hilus. 



The uterine or Fallopian tubes are small 

 and average two or three inches (ca. 5-8 

 cm.) in length. Each passes at first for^vard 

 in the lateral part of' the bursa ovarii, and 

 then runs backward in the medial part of 

 the pouch; it is only slightly flexuous. The 

 pouch is thus a part of the mesosalpinx. The 

 fimbriated extremity lies chiefly in the bursa 

 ovarii, but part of it often protrudes through 

 the slit-like opening of the bursa ovarii; it 

 has a rather large abdominal opening. The 

 uterine orifice is very small. 



The uterus has a very short body and 

 extremely long narrow horns. In a bitch of 

 medium size the body is about an inch (ca. 

 2-3 cm.) and the cornua five or six inches 

 (ca. 12-15 cm.) long. The horns are of 

 uniform diameter, are nearly straight, and lie 

 entirely within the abdomen. They diverge 

 from the body in the form of a V toward each 

 kidney. Their posterior parts are united by 

 the peritoneum. The neck is very short and 

 has a thick muscular coat. Dorsally there 

 is no line of demarcation between uterus and 

 vagina, but the cervix uteri is much thicker 

 than the vagina. Ventrally the cervix forms 

 a cylindrical projection which lies in a depression of the vaginal wall. The mucous 

 membrane of the uterus has long uterine glands and also short tubular crypts. 



The broad ligaments contain much fat and some unstriped muscle. They are 

 much wider in the middle than at either end. The posterior part is attached to the 

 anterior part of the vagina. The round ligaments are contained in the free edge of 

 folds given off from the lateral face of the broad ligaments. They are bands of 

 unstriped muscle and fat. Each passes through the inguinal canal, enveloped by a 

 peritoneal pouch (processus vaginalis). A ligamentous fold extends forward from 



Fig. 541. — Genital Organs of Bitch. 

 Vulva, vagina, and uterua (in part) are slit 

 open, a. Ovarian buraa; b, same opened to show 

 the right ovary, c; d, d, horns of uterus ; e, e\ body 

 of uterus; /, neck of uterua; .'"', external uterine 

 orifice; g, vagina; h, hymen; i, vulva; k, external 

 urethral orifice; I, urinary bladder; m, urethra; 

 n, n, labia vulvge; o, fossa clitoridis; p, central 

 projection of fold of mucous membrane which con- 

 ceals the cUtoria. (After Ellenberger, in Leisering'a 

 Atlaa.) 



