FEMALE ORGANS OF GENERATION. THE VULVA. Enumerate the Organs comprised in the Vulva. They are the Mons Veneris, the Labia Majora, Labia Minora, Clitoris, Meatus Urinarius, and the Orifice of the Vagina. Describe the Labia Majora. They are two prominent folds formed of skin, mucous membrane, areolar and dartoid tissues;—are joined together at the mons veneris, forming the Anterior Commissure, and also in front of the perineum, where they form the Posterior Commissure. What are the Labia Minora? The Labia Minora or Nymphæ are two folds of mucous membrane, lost posteriorly in the labia majora, but anteriorly they embrace the clitoris, forming the Prepuce of that organ. Describe the other Parts comprised in the Vulva. The- FIG. 93. Mons Veneris,—is the eminence in front of the pubes. It is formed of adipose tissue, and at puberty becomes covered with hair. Clitoris, is situated beneath the anterior commissure, its Glans only appearing as a small rounded tubercle between the anterior extremities of the labia minora. It is a diminutive penis in all but the urethra, having a body, two crura, a glans, prepuce, suspensory ligament and muscles, the erectores clitoridis. Bulbi Vestibuli,3- -are two oblong masses extending from the clitoris along the sides of the vestibule, and consisting of a venous plexus surrounded by a fibrous membrane. Pars Intermedia,—is a small venous plexus situated between the glans clitoridis and the bulbi vestibuli. Vestibule,-is a triangular depression in front of the vaginal orifice, bounded laterally by the labia minora. Meatus Urinarius,1-situated in the vestibule, about an inch below the clitoris, and close to the vaginal orifice. Orifice of the Vagina,2—is surrounded by the sphincter vaginæ muscle, and in the virgin is sometimes partly closed by the hymen. Hymen, a fold of mucous membrane situated across the lower part of the vaginal orifice, of various shapes, but usually semilunar, the concavity upwards. It is frequently absent in virgins, and after sexual intercourse its rupture and cicatrization give rise to small eminences along the margin of the vaginal orifice, named the Carunculæ Myrtiformes. Inferior Pudendal,-branch of the Small Sciatic nerve. Describe the Spermatic Cord. It extends from the internal abdominal ring to the globus minor of the epididymis, and is about 4 inches long. It consists of the following-named 10 structures, bound together by areolar tissue and invested by its coverings. These structures are the― Vas Deferens. 2 Fig. 91. Cremasteric Artery. GO Artery of the Vas Deferens.3 Spermatic Veins. Spermatic Plexus of Nerves. Branch of the Ilio inguinal Nerve. Lymphatics. What is the Pampiniform Plexus ? A venous plexus formed by the spermatic veins and branches from the epididymis. It forms the chief mass of the spermatic cord, and unites into a single trunk, which on the right side empties into the inferior vena cava, on the left side into the left renal vein. Describe the Vesiculæ Seminales. They are two sacculated, membranous pouches, serving as reservoirs for the semen, and are filled by the backing up of that fluid from the vasa deferentia. They are about 21⁄2 inches in length, and are situated between the base of the bladder and the rectum. Their Ejaculatory Ducts,—one on each side, are formed by the junction of the vasa deferentia with the ducts of the vesiculæ seminales. They are about 34 inch in length, and terminate in the prostatic portion of the urethra, by orifices on the sides of the veru montanum. Describe the Descent of the Testes. In early foetal life the testes are situated in the abdominal cavity, just below and in front of the kidneys, and are each connected to the dartos of the scrotum and the tissues about the inguinal canal by the 3 processes of a cord named the Gubernaculum Testis, which is supposed to gradually shorten itself and draw the testis down. At the beginning of the 5th month the descent begins; during the 7th month the testicle enters the inguinal canal, and ordinarily arrives in the scrotum by the end of the 8th month. A process of peritoneum is supposed to be carried down in front of the testis; which process, by obliteration of the canal, becomes a separate structure, the Tunica Vaginalis. The structures of the inguinal canal are also supposed to be brought down with the testicle, and to constitute some of its coverings. FEMALE ORGANS OF GENERATION. THE VULVA. Enumerate the Organs comprised in the Vulva. They are the Mons Veneris, the Labia Majora, Labia Minora, Clitoris, Meatus Urinarius, and the Orifice of the Vagina. Describe the Labia Majora. They are two prominent folds formed of skin, mucous membrane, areolar and dartoid tissues;;--are joined together at the mons veneris, forming the Anterior Commissure, and also in front of the perineum, where they form the Posterior Commissure. What are the Labia Minora? The Labia Minora or Nymphæ are two folds of mucous membrane, lost posteriorly in the labia majora, but anteriorly they embrace the clitoris, forming the Prepuce of that organ. Describe the other Parts comprised in the Vulva. The FIG. 93. Mons Veneris, is the eminence in front of the pubes. It is formed of adipose tissue, and at puberty becomes covered with hair. Clitoris, is situated beneath the anterior commissure, its Glans only appearing as a small rounded tubercle between the anterior extremities of the labia minora. It is a diminutive penis in all but the urethra, having a body, two crura, a glans, prepuce, suspensory ligament and muscles, the erectores clitoridis. Bulbi Vestibuli,3- -are two oblong masses extending from the clitoris along the sides of the vestibule, and consisting of a venous plexus surrounded by a fibrous membrane. Pars Intermedia,—is a small venous plexus situated between the glans clitoridis and the bulbi vestibuli. Vestibule,—is a triangular depression in front of the vaginal orifice, bounded laterally by the labia minora. Meatus Urinarius,1-situated in the vestibule, about an inch below the clitoris, and close to the vaginal orifice. Orifice of the Vagina, 2-is surrounded by the sphincter vaginæ muscle, and in the virgin is sometimes partly closed by the hymen. Hymen, a fold of mucous membrane situated across the lower part of the vaginal orifice, of various shapes, but usually semilunar, the concavity upwards. It is frequently absent in virgins, and after sexual intercourse its rupture and cicatrization give rise to small eminences along the margin of the vaginal orifice, named the Caruncula Myrtiformes. Fourchette, a small transverse fold just behind the posterior margin of the vaginal orifice. Fossa Navicularis,—the space between the fourchette and the posterior commissure of the vulva. Glands of Bartholine,- —one on each side of the vaginal orifice, their ducts opening on the inner sides of the labia minora. They are the analogues of Cowper's glands in the male. THE VAGINA. Describe the Vagina. It is a curved canal extending from the vulva to the uterus, placed between the bladder and the rectum. Its length is about 4 inches along its anterior wall, an inch longer posteriorly, and its walls are usually in contact with each other. It is very dilatable, especially at its upper part. Describe its Structure. The vaginal wall consists of a muscular coat externally, a layer of erectile tissue, and a mucous lining covered with squamous epithelium, and furnished with mucous glands and follicles. TheColumns of the Vagina,-are two longitudinal raphés situated along its mucous surface, connected by numerous transverse ridges, or Ruga. What are the Relations of the Vagina? They areAnteriorly, the urethra and the base of the bladder. Posteriorly, the anterior wall of the rectum, and the recto-uterine fold of peritoneum which forms Douglas' cul-de-sac behind its upper fourth. Laterally,,—are attached the broad ligaments of the uterus, the levatores ani muscles, and the recto-vesical fascia. Superiorly, it is attached to the cervix uteri above the os, and higher on the posterior wall than anteriorly. THE UTERUS AND ITS APPENDAGES. Where is the Uterus situated? In the pelvic cavity, between the bladder and the rectum, and above the vagina. Describe the Uterus. It is a hollow, pear-shaped, muscular organ, measuring about 3 inches long, 2 inches broad, and I inch thick, flattened from before backwards, placed base upwards, and forming an angle with the vagina, which partially receives its cervix. The Fundus,A-is broad, convex, having walls 5% inch thick, and is covered by peritoneum. Body, is about 15% inch long, walls 1⁄2 inch thick, flat anteriorly, convex posteriorly, concave laterally, and joined to the bladder by its lower ante rior fourth. It is invested by peritoneum posteriorly, and in front for its upper three-fourths. Cervix, or Neck,—is the lower constricted portion, about 13% inch long, walls inch in thickness, and is embraced for 2 to 3/4 inch by the upper extremity of the vagina. Cavity of the Body,B-is small and triangular, flattened from before backwards, about 1 inch in length, and has two lateral Cornua above, and a constricted orifice-the Os Internum Uteri-at its lower angle, opening into the cavity of the cervix. Cavity of the Cervix,—is spindle-shaped, about 1 inch long, and presents on its inner surface transverse folds of mucous membrane proceeding from a longitudinal fold, giving an appearance named the Arbor Vitæ. Os Uteri or Os Tinca,-is a transverse orifice at the lower end of the cervical cavity, opening into the vagina, and having an anterior and a posterior lip. Enumerate the Ligaments of the Uterus. The proper ligaments of the uterus are 6 in number,-2 Anterior, or Utero-vesico-pubic, 2 Posterior, or Utero-recto-sacral, and 2 Lateral, or Broad Ligaments, all composed of peritoneum. The Broad Ligaments,-pass from the sides of the uterus to the lateral walls of the pelvis, and form a septum across the pelvic cavity. They contain, between the two folds of peritoneum of which they are composed, the Fallopian tubes, the Ovaries, and the so-called Round Ligaments. What are the Round Ligaments of the Uterus? They are two cords, composed of areolar and fibrous tissue, muscular fibres, vessels and nerves, extending one on each side, from the lateral aspects of the fundus uteri, through the inguinal canals, to the labia majora, where they are lost. Each ligament lies, for a part of its course, between the two layers of the broad ligament, and is covered by a process of peritoneum. (G Fig. 94.) |