General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 3 (of 3)Bichat, Xavier
Science
General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 3 (of 3)
Bichat, Xavier
Human anatomy; Human physiology
The second general mucous membrane, which we have called the
genito-urinary, enters in man by the urethra, and thence is spread on
the one hand upon the bladder, the ureters, the pelvis of the kidnies,
the infundibula, the papillæ and the capillary tubes which open on
their summit; on the other hand it goes into the excretory tubes of
the prostate, into the seminal ducts, the vesiculæ seminales, the vasa
deferentia and the branches with numberless windings that produce them.
In woman, this membrane is introduced by the os externum and
penetrating on the one hand by the urethra, goes as in man upon the
urinary organs; on the other hand, we see it enter the vagina, lining
it, the uterus and the fallopian tubes, and afterwards becoming
continuous with the peritoneum by the opening of these tubes. It is the
only example in the economy, of a communication established between the
mucous and serous surfaces.
This manner of describing the course of the mucous surfaces, by saying
that they are elongated, dip down, penetrate, &c. from one cavity to
another, is no doubt not conformable to the progress of nature, which
creates in each organ the membranes belonging to this organ, and does
not thus extend them by degrees; but our manner of understanding it
is better adapted to this language, the meaning of which the least
reflection will show.
In thus referring to two general membranes all the mucous surfaces,
I am not only supported by anatomical inspection, but pathological
observation has also furnished me with points of demarcation between
the two, and points of contact between the different portions
of membranes of which each is the assemblage. In the different
descriptions of catarrhal epidemics given by authors, we frequently
see one of these membranes affected in all parts, the other remaining
sound; it is especially not rare to observe a general affection of the
first, of that which extends from the mouth, the nose, the surface of
the eye, into the alimentary canal and the bronchial vessels. The last
epidemic observed at Paris, with which Pinal himself was affected,
was of this character; that of 1761, described by Razou, had it also;
that of 1752, described in the memoirs of the Society of Edinburgh was
remarkable for a similar phenomenon; now, we do not see at that time
a corresponding affection in the mucous membrane that is spread upon
the urinary organs and upon those of generation. There is then here,
1st, an analogy between the portions of the first, by the uniformity of
affection; 2d, a demarcation between the two by the health of the one
and the disease of the other.
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