Still further to facilitate the understanding of the structures described in addition to the preceding diagram, the following drawing is presented. It exhibits a section of the female pelvis, and explains more fully the relative positions of its contents:— [Illustration: _a_—The bony portion of the pelvis separated from its junction with its companion. _b_—The spinal column of the back. _c_—The bladder. _d_—The orifice of the urethra. _e_—The body of the womb. _f_—The neck of the womb. _g_—The vagina. _h_—The rectum, or end of the intestines.] The subjoined drawing illustrates the shape and appearance of the womb detached from the body:— [Illustration] To particularize: The upper part is called the _fundus_; the widest part, the _body_; the _neck_, the narrow part; and the lower portion the _mouth_, or the _os tincæ_. The connexion of the fallopian tubes is well shown. The uterus, or womb, is described by physiologists as being of a spongy structure—a structure that yields with its enlargement—that grows with its growth—that resumes the former size when disburdened of its contents. It is supplied with blood-vessels, is duly supported, has scarcely a cavity when unimpregnated, but is ever in a state of preparation for changes. Of conception we shall presently treat. There is one function too important to omit in this place, and this is menstruation—a term indicating a monthly periodical discharge that escapes, or which is given off, from the womb. At the commencement of this function, woman is said to have arrived at puberty; but there are cases of precocity, and others wherein it never occurs, that neutralize this assertion; besides, menstruation, being deferred or protracted, depends frequently upon peculiarities of health. As soon, however, as it occurs, a sensible change takes place in the female economy; and certainly the other developments of womanhood rapidly follow.