The Uterus 29 



broad ligament against the brim of the pubis and the infero- 

 lateral wall of the vagina. 



The uterine body and cornua of ruminants are much more 

 dense, narrower and more cylindrical than in the mare, the cer- 

 vix is longer, intensely rigid, almost cartilaginous to the touch, 

 while the cervical canal is longer, narrower, more tortuous and 

 interrupted by transverse, as well as longitudinal rugae. It is 

 very difficult and sometimes well nigh impractical to insert one 

 finger through the cervical canal into the uterus. During estrum 

 the OS uteri and cervical canal become more dilatable. 



The broad ligament of the uterus of the mare arises anteriorly 

 from the abdominal wall in the sublumbar region not far poster- 

 ior to the kidney and its parietal attachment passes from this 

 point obliquely downwards, backwards and medianwards, along 

 the median side of the inguinal ring and thence into the pelvic 

 cavity where its two layers of peritoneum become reflected from 

 the vagina upon the bladder, rectum and pelvic walls. As com- 

 pared with the broad ligament of other domestic animals it is re- 

 stricted in extent in the mare, especially transversely, resulting in 

 a comparatively rigid fixation of the uterus and, since its anterior 

 attachment is approximately in a direct line with the long axis of 

 the cornua, the entire organ is held well forward in the abdo- 

 minal cavity in the form of a cross, in marked contrast to the 

 disposition of the organ in ruminants. 



As compared with the mare, the broad ligament of ruminants 

 is much more ample transversely, while, in an antero-posterior 

 direction, it is much less extensive. Its anterior point of attach- 

 ment to the abdominal parieties is much farther back than in the 

 mare. This variation in disposition and relations of the broad 

 ligament produces two well marked clinical differences obstetric- 

 ally. • 



In the non-gravid uterus of the cow the anterior parietal at- 

 tachment of its broad ligament is already posterior to the ante- 

 rior curvature of the uterine cornua, which, in the gravid uterus, 

 becomes sharply accentuated, almost the entire organ resting an- 

 terior to its ligamentous attachments to the abdominal parieties. 

 Thus the broad ligaments become largely powerless in prevent- 

 ing the pregnant organ frotn revolving upon its long axis, so that 

 torsion of the uterus (which see), becomes quite common in the 

 cow and ewe, while in the mare, the more rigidly fixed organ, 



