_The Uterus_ (_f_, _i_).--The =uterus= consists of a median portion or
=body= (_i_) which is unpaired, and of two =horns= or =cornua= (_f_)
which extend from the body to the uterine tubes. The body (_i_) of the
uterus is a tube about four centimeters long which lies in the abdominal
cavity, ventrad of the rectum and between it and the bladder. Its caudal
end is at the level of the cranial border of the pubis. The cranial end
of its cavity is divided by a median dorsoventral partition into lateral
halves, while the cavity of its caudal portion is unpaired. The mucosa
is thrown up into large longitudinal folds. At its caudal end the uterus
projects into the vagina (_m_), so that when the vagina is opened the
end of the uterus is seen projecting into it as a prominent papilla. The
portion of the uterus thus enclosed by the vagina is the =cervix uteri=
or =neck= of the uterus. Its free end is directed ventrocaudad, and a
prominent ridge is continued from its caudodorsal side along the
mid-dorsal wall of the vagina. The uterine cavity communicates with the
vaginal cavity by a V-shaped opening, the =os uteri=, which looks
ventrocaudad and has its apex directed cranioventrad. Each horn (_f_) of
the uterus passes craniolaterad in a nearly straight course from the
body (_i_) to the uterine tube (_e_). It narrows rapidly and becomes
continuous with the tube. The mucosa is thrown into longitudinal folds.
_Ligaments of the Uterus._--=The Broad Ligament.=--The uterus is held in
place principally by the broad ligaments. These are two folds of the
peritoneum, each of which is attached to the whole length of one of the
cornua and the adjacent part of the uterine tube and to the
corresponding lateral surface of the body of the uterus. Each ligament
ends craniad in a concave free border. Its attached border forms a
curved line which begins laterad of the kidney and extends thence to the
lateral ligament of the bladder. From the lateral ligament of the
bladder the broad ligament extends caudad into the =rectovesical= pouch
of the peritoneum, which lies between the rectum and the bladder. It
holds the body of the uterus to the lateral wall of this pouch, and
together with the opposite ligament and the body of the uterus forms
thus a transverse partition, which divides the rectovesical pouch into
dorsal and ventral portions.
The =round ligament= (_h_) is a fibrous band which extends from a point
of the body wall, which corresponds exactly to the internal inguinal
ring of the male, to the cornu of the uterus about two centimeters from
the cranial end. It is attached to the broad ligament by an intervening
fold of peritoneum.
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