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. 2em.). Each ovary is commonly 
situated a short distance (ca. 1-2 em.) 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 forward 
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. 
2-8 em.) and the cornua five or six inches 
Fic. 541.—Genirat OrGans or Brrcu. (ea. 12-15 em.) long. The horns are of 
Vulva, vagina, and uterus (in part) are slit uniform diameter, are nearly straight, and lie 
rae Ai eis OCR tacts o ae entirely within the abdomen. They diverge 
of uterus; f, neck of uterus: /’, external uterine from the body in the form of a V toward each 
orifice; g, vagina; h, hymen; 7, vulva; k, external kidney. Their posterior parts are united by 
urethral oir: unnary Bader: mutha the peritoneum. The neck is very short and 
projection of fold of mucous membrane which eon- has a thick muscular coat. Dorsally there 
ceals the clitoris. (After Ellenberger, in Leisering's jg no line of demarcation between uterus and 
Atlas.) : : ame : 
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 
