PLATE IV.Vertical Section of the Womb and VaginaVertical Section of the Womb and Vagina, natural size.a. a. a.The solid walls of the Womb cut through.b.That part of the cavity, or hollow of the Womb, which is in the fundus, or top.c.That part of the cavity which is in the lower part, or neck, of the Womb.d.The Vagina.e. e.The cut edges of the Vagina.f. f.The positions of the Fallopian Tubes, which are cut off, and down the passages of which two needles are passed.g.The Os Tincæ, or Mouth of the Womb.
PLATE IV.
Vertical Section of the Womb and Vagina
Vertical Section of the Womb and Vagina, natural size.a. a. a.The solid walls of the Womb cut through.b.That part of the cavity, or hollow of the Womb, which is in the fundus, or top.c.That part of the cavity which is in the lower part, or neck, of the Womb.d.The Vagina.e. e.The cut edges of the Vagina.f. f.The positions of the Fallopian Tubes, which are cut off, and down the passages of which two needles are passed.g.The Os Tincæ, or Mouth of the Womb.
Vertical Section of the Womb and Vagina, natural size.
a. a. a.The solid walls of the Womb cut through.b.That part of the cavity, or hollow of the Womb, which is in the fundus, or top.c.That part of the cavity which is in the lower part, or neck, of the Womb.d.The Vagina.e. e.The cut edges of the Vagina.f. f.The positions of the Fallopian Tubes, which are cut off, and down the passages of which two needles are passed.g.The Os Tincæ, or Mouth of the Womb.
Inaddition to the general explanation already given, there are some of the Female organs whose peculiar structure requires to be more fully noticed, on account of its important influence on some of the processes hereafter to be described.
The external appearance of the womb, viewed in front, and in connection with its appendages, is shown in Plate III. It is placed in the Pelvis, between the bladder and the Rectum, and at the top of the Vagina, as seen in Plates I and II. Its internal structure is represented in Plate IV.
The length of the Womb, after puberty, is about three inches; its breadth at the upper part, or fundus, about two inches; and at the cervix, or neck, about one inch. The cavity in the interior is small, owing to the thickness of the walls, and its form is triangular. The shape of the Womb resembles a pear, somewhat flattened, from before backward. Previous to puberty its size is much smaller, and with those who have had children it often exceeds the dimensions we have given.
TheNeck, or narrow part, (c.Plate IV.) is much changed by pregnancy. In virgins it is long and pointed, and somewhat enlarged in the middle. In those who have borne children it is considerably shorter, more obtuse, and less regular in its form. The cavity in the Neck is larger in the middle than at either end, as will be seen in Plate IV.
TheOs Tincæ, or mouth of the Womb, also undergoes considerable change from the same cause. In the young person it is merely like a small slit, scarcely to be felt, but after pregnancy it much enlarges,and remains more or less permanently open. The anterior lip, or the one in front, is somewhat larger than the posterior one.
The body of the Uterus is formed of a very dense, gray colored, muscular substance, possessing astonishing contractile power. The interior is lined, like the Vagina, with a mucus membrane, and the whole organ is plentifully supplied with arteries, veins, and nerves.
One of the most remarkable properties of the Womb is that of being able to distend to an extraordinary degree, and then retract again to nearly its original size. The force which it sometimes exhibits during its contraction is very great, being sufficient to separate, and even break, the bones of the mother's pelvis, and paralyze the hand of the operator when introduced. The Muscular Fibres on which this contractile force depends are most obvious during gestation; they then appear very numerous, and very curiously disposed, some of them ramifying in almost every direction, as will be seen by Plates V, VI. It is owing to this that the Womb contracts in every conceivable direction, and thus presses, during labor, on every part of the child's body.
PLATE V.Figures 1 and 2.Fig. 1. In this plate represents the Muscular Fibres a little exaggerated, so that they can be more distinctly seen.—a. a.are the orifices of the Fallopian Tubes.Fig. 2. Represents the natural appearance, the fibres not being quite so distinct, though sufficiently obvious.—a. a.The orifices of the Fallopian Tubes.In both Figures the Womb is supposed to be turned inside out, its peculiar structure being more readily seen interiorly than exteriorly.
PLATE V.
Figures 1 and 2.
Fig. 1. In this plate represents the Muscular Fibres a little exaggerated, so that they can be more distinctly seen.—a. a.are the orifices of the Fallopian Tubes.
Fig. 2. Represents the natural appearance, the fibres not being quite so distinct, though sufficiently obvious.—a. a.The orifices of the Fallopian Tubes.
In both Figures the Womb is supposed to be turned inside out, its peculiar structure being more readily seen interiorly than exteriorly.
Fig. 1Fig. 2Muscular Fibres of the WombPlate V.The Muscular Fibres of the Womb.
Fig. 1Fig. 2
Muscular Fibres of the Womb
Plate V.The Muscular Fibres of the Womb.
Plate V.
The Muscular Fibres of the Womb.
PLATE VI.Figures 1 and 2.Fig 1. This represents the appearance of the Fibres externally, and shows how they terminate in the round ligament a. b.Fig. 2. The linesa. b.represent the direction of the force of the Fundul Fibres;c. d.That of the Circular Muscles of the body of the Uterus;d. e.The combined force of the Muscles.The dotted lines represent the force reflected by the liquor amnii. The dotted curved lines the direction of the circular fibres of the body of the Uterus.
PLATE VI.
Figures 1 and 2.
Fig 1. This represents the appearance of the Fibres externally, and shows how they terminate in the round ligament a. b.
Fig. 2. The linesa. b.represent the direction of the force of the Fundul Fibres;c. d.That of the Circular Muscles of the body of the Uterus;d. e.The combined force of the Muscles.
The dotted lines represent the force reflected by the liquor amnii. The dotted curved lines the direction of the circular fibres of the body of the Uterus.
Fig. 1Muscular Fibres of the WombFig. 2lines representing force of the Fundul FibresPlate VI.The Muscular Fibres of the Womb.
Fig. 1Muscular Fibres of the WombFig. 2lines representing force of the Fundul FibresPlate VI.The Muscular Fibres of the Womb.
Fig. 1
Fig. 2lines representing force of the Fundul Fibres
Fig. 2
Plate VI.The Muscular Fibres of the Womb.
Plate VI.
The Muscular Fibres of the Womb.
The Vagina (c.Plate I.) is a membranous canal, lined with a mucus membrane like the Uterus. By its upper part it is attached to the neck of the Womb, at about two-thirds of its height—so that two-thirds of the neck hang within the Vagina. Below, it terminates in the Vulva, or external mouth. The upper part of the Vagina is much larger than the lower part, particularly in those who have borne children. It is capable of considerable distension, and after retraction, to allow of the child passing down it from the Womb. The external mouth is called theVulva, and is usually partly closed, in the virgin state, by the membrane called the Hymen, (n.Plate I.) The length of the Vagina is from three to five inches, and its diameter from one inch to one and a half, or even two inches in those who have borne many children.
This is the external opening, or mouth of the Vagina, through which the child has to pass at the termination of delivery. The external and internal lips, with the muscular and membranous tissue surrounding it, are all capable of great distension, without injury, to allow of the passage of the child.
This is the part situated between the Vulva and the Rectum. (p.Plate I.) It is composed of a somewhat dense and firm substance, chiefly muscular, and, like all the other parts mentioned, is capable of great distension. It is important, in many of the manipulationsduring labor, to be well acquainted with it; and when the child's head is passing the perineum requires supporting, to prevent its being lacerated or broken through, an accident which often happens from want of due attention, and which leads to the most serious consequences.
The Pelvis is that part of the bony structure, or skeleton, of the female, in which the generative organs are placed, and through which the process of parturition is effected. An acquaintance with its natural structure, and with the changes which may be produced in its form and size, by disease and other accidents, is indispensable to those who wish to practise or understand midwifery.
In early life the Pelvis is composed of several bones, many of which, after puberty, grow together. In the adult female it is customary to speak of butfourbones, the sacrum, the coccygis, and the two innominata, or hip bones, (see PlatesVII,VIII.) In the young female these are divided into several distinct parts.
PLATE VII.Bones of the Pelvis.The four principal bones, as found in Mature life.—A. A. The Ossa Ilii, or Ossa Innominata, commonly called the haunch, or hip bones.—B. The Os Sacrum, or lower part of the back bone.—C. The extreme termination of the back bone, called the Os Coccygis.The divisions into parts, as in Early life.—The Ilium, A, on each side, is in three parts; the Ilium, properly so called, markeda. a.; the Pubis, markedb. b.; and the Ischium, markedc. c.The Sacrum is in five parts, marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.d.Is the last bone of the spine, which joins the Sacrum.—e. e.Are the Sockets in which the upper parts of the thigh bones fit, forming the hip joints.—g. g.The two rings, formed by the bones of the Pubis and Ischium, each called the Foramen Magnum.
PLATE VII.
Bones of the Pelvis.
The four principal bones, as found in Mature life.—A. A. The Ossa Ilii, or Ossa Innominata, commonly called the haunch, or hip bones.—B. The Os Sacrum, or lower part of the back bone.—C. The extreme termination of the back bone, called the Os Coccygis.
The divisions into parts, as in Early life.—The Ilium, A, on each side, is in three parts; the Ilium, properly so called, markeda. a.; the Pubis, markedb. b.; and the Ischium, markedc. c.The Sacrum is in five parts, marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
d.Is the last bone of the spine, which joins the Sacrum.—e. e.Are the Sockets in which the upper parts of the thigh bones fit, forming the hip joints.—g. g.The two rings, formed by the bones of the Pubis and Ischium, each called the Foramen Magnum.
Bones of the PelvisPlate VII.Bones of the Pelvis.
Bones of the PelvisPlate VII.Bones of the Pelvis.
Plate VII.Bones of the Pelvis.
Plate VII.
Bones of the Pelvis.