PlateI, represents one half of the Female body, supposing it to be cut down the middle, and gives an accurate representation of the relative position of the different organs.
Plate II, represents a front view of the Female body, with the external walls removed, to show the relative position of the organs.
Plate III, represents the uterus and its appendages removed from the body, so that their connections with each other may be seen.
PLATE III.Womb, Vagina, Ovaries, Fallopian TubesB. The Womb.—C. The Vagina.—e. e.The Ovaries.—f. f.The Fallopian Tubes.—s.The left broad Ligament, the right one being removed.—r. r.The Round Ligaments.—g.The Os Tincæ, or Mouth of the Womb.
PLATE III.
Womb, Vagina, Ovaries, Fallopian Tubes
B. The Womb.—C. The Vagina.—e. e.The Ovaries.—f. f.The Fallopian Tubes.—s.The left broad Ligament, the right one being removed.—r. r.The Round Ligaments.—g.The Os Tincæ, or Mouth of the Womb.
B. The Womb.—C. The Vagina.—e. e.The Ovaries.—f. f.The Fallopian Tubes.—s.The left broad Ligament, the right one being removed.—r. r.The Round Ligaments.—g.The Os Tincæ, or Mouth of the Womb.
The Ovaries.—(e. e.Plates I, II and III.)—These are two oval shaped bodies, about the size of an almond nut, placed one on each side, nearly in the groin. They contain a number of small round grains, or granules, called theovæ, or eggs, which are the germs of human beings, as the eggs of birds are of their particular kind. They are connected with the uterus by two short arms, or prolongations, and are enclosed in the folds of the broad ligaments.
The Fallopian Tubes.—(f. f.Plates I and II.)—These are two Tubes, one on each side, beneath the Ovaries, and extending farther. Each of them has a small passage which opens into the uterus at one end, and opposite the Ovaries at the other. Their use is to convey the impregnating principle to the Ovaries, at the time of conception, and to convey the Ovæ, when impregnated, to the interior of the Womb.
The Uterus, or Womb.—(B. Plates I, II.)—This is a hollow organ, placed between the Bladder, which is in front, and the Rectum, which is behind. It is connected with the Vagina, and opens into it by the small orifice called the mouth of the womb.—(g.Plate I.)—The Uterus is the organ which receives the impregnated ovum, and in which it is developed into the human being. It is connected with the Ovaries by the Fallopian Tubes, and with the Vagina by the Os Tincæ, and is retained in its situation partly by its connections with other organs, and partly by the round and broad ligaments.
The Vagina.—(C. Plate I.)—This is the passage which leads to the Womb from the external opening.
The Os Tincæ, or Mouth of the Womb.—(g.Plates I and II.)—This is the small orifice, opening into the Vagina, by which communication is established with the Uterus from without.
The Bladder.—(A. Plates I and II.)—The Receptacle of the Urine. It is placed immediately in front, on the pubic bone, the Uterus lying nearly on the top of it.
The Rectum, or Termination of the large Intestine.(D. Plates I and II.)—This is situated behind the Vagina, and between it and the back bone.
The Broad Ligaments.—(s.Plate III.)—These are two broad folds of membrane, which serve partly to enclose the Fallopian Tubes and Ovaries, and partly to sustain the Womb in its place. They adhere to the Uterus and to the walls of the Pelvis.
The Round Ligaments.—(r. r.Plates II and III.) These two cords arise from each upper corner of the Uterus, and curving downwards are fixed by their other extremities to the pubic bone. They are partly enclosed in the Broad Ligaments. They assist in sustaining the Uterus in its position, and probably also they strengthen the Broad Ligaments and prevent their rupture when the strain upon them is too great.
Fimbriæ of the Fallopian Tubes.—(t. t.Plate III.) These Fimbriæ are like Tentaculæ, or fingers, springing from the extreme ends of the Tubes, and floating loosely in the cavity of the pelvis. Their use is to clasp hold of the ovaries at the time of conception, so that the fecundating principle can reach them, and also to take up the ovæ when impregnated, and convey them into the Tube, down which they pass into the Womb.
The External Lips.—(l.Plate I.)—These are commonly termed theLabiæ externa. They are two broad folds of membranous and adipose substance, forming the portals to the Vulva, or entrance to the Vagina.
The Internal Lips.—(m.Plate I.)—These are two smaller labiæ, sometimes called the Nymphæ, within the first, the chief use of which appears to be to direct the flow of the urine from the urethra.
The Hymen.—(n.Plate I.)—This is a membrane generally found in virgins, which grows over and closes more or less completely the entrance to the Vagina. Use unknown. When it exists there is generally a small orifice through it, by which the menses escape at each monthly period.—(o.Plate I.)
The Clitoris.—(p.Plate I.)—This is a small prominent organ, about the size of a large pea, placed in the upper part of the opening between the external lips, and immediately above the Meatus Urinarius. It is the principal seat of venereal excitement, and is subject to many annoying diseases.
The Perineum.—(q.Plate I.)—The part between the Vulva, or entrance to the Vagina, and the fundament. It is chiefly composed of the muscles belonging to the neighboring parts, and assists very much in supporting the womb.
The Meatus Urinarius, or Mouth of the Bladder, (h.Plate I.)—A small opening by which the urine escapes, placed between the lips, and immediately above the Vulva, or entrance to the Vagina.
These organs are all placed within, or in contact with, the lower part of the Trunk, called the pelvis.They are all intimately connected with each other, and some of them have most extensive and strong sympathies with almost every other part of the system. So much so is this the case in fact, that probably the great majority of diseases to which females are liable arise, directly or indirectly, from Uterine or Ovarian derangement. Very often the heart, the stomach, or some other organ, though perfectly healthy, is thought to be diseased, and appears to be so, merely from its sympathy with the diseased womb.