82 



THE PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION 



sangiiineo-serous exudate infiltrates into the stroma. The 

 enlargement of the vessels continues, but does not become very- 

 pronounced until shortly before the stage of destruction which 

 may be said to mark the beginning of menstruation proper. 



Lipes also describes an increase in the size of the glands of 

 the mucous membrane, which he supposes to be due to the 

 collection of the secretion of the gland-ceUs. This mucus-hke 



Fig. 7. — Section through mucosa of human uterus showing pre-meustrual 

 congestion. (From Sellheim. ) 



product of the gland-cells is said to give them a distinctly 

 granular appearance. " The gland-cells become uniformly 

 swollen and take stains more evenly, and their nuclei are more 

 widely separated as a result of the increase in the volume of the 

 protoplasm, and are uniformly more round in comparison with 

 the oval nuclei, which are seen in the regeneration period." 

 Westphalen ^ has pointed out that the nuclei, which are situated 

 near the base of the cell as a rule, appear in the middle of the 

 cell at the beginning of the stage of pre-menstrual swelling. 



' Westphalen, " Zur Physiologie des Menstruation," Arch. f. Gynak., vol. 

 lii., 189fi. 



