The Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in HygieneGalbraith, Anna M. (Anna Mary)
Science
The Four Epochs of Woman's Life; A Study in Hygiene
Galbraith, Anna M. (Anna Mary)
Women -- Health and hygiene
Respiratory Movements of the Uterus.-- When no constrictions are
placed about the waist, the uterus moves freely up and down with every
respiration. So distinctly and with such regularity do these movements
take place that an operator by watching the movements of the uterus
can tell the effect that the anesthetic is having on the patient's
breathing. These so-called respiratory movements play a very important
role in the circulation of the uterus, and in the return of the venous
blood to the heart.
Anything which interferes with these movements, as the use of corsets,
or of tight bands around the waist, prevents the free return of the
venous blood. The uterus becomes congested, and through the constant
abnormal weight of the organ itself, as well as the pressing down upon
it from above of the superincumbent organs, the uterus is pushed down
below its normal position, the ligaments whose duty it is to hold it
up become relaxed, and the unhappy woman suffers all the agonies that
are attendant on the "falling of the womb." For this reason the
disorder is frequently met with in women who have never borne children
as well as in those who have.
The Fallopian Tubes.-- The Fallopian tubes extend from the upper,
rounded angles of the uterus, within and along the free margin of the
broad ligaments, for a distance of about two inches, to the vicinity
of the ovaries, where each one terminates in a funnel-shaped orifice
surrounded by a series of fringed processes. The lumen of the tube is
narrowest at its inner end, where it opens into the cavity of the
uterus by a minute orifice which scarcely admits a bristle; the
diameter of the canal gradually increases until it reaches its ovarian
extremity. The mucous lining of the tube is clothed by a single layer
of hair-like epithelium, whose current sweeps from the ovarian toward
the uterine end of the tube; and it is these movements which propel
the ovum from the ovary to the uterus.
The Ovaries.-- The ovaries are two small bodies of an almond shape,
and lie on either side of the uterus. The bulk of the entire organ
consists of connective tissue, in which lie imbedded the Graafian
follicles or ovisacs, in which the ova are contained. These follicles
or ovisacs are minute cells which are packed immediately beneath the
surface, where they occur in all stages of development. With the
increase in size which accompanies their development the follicles
pass toward the surface, where they form a distinct projection, and at
this point will occur the final rupture of the sac and the escape of
the ovum. It is supposed that the ovum is grasped by the fringe-like
extremity of the Fallopian tube and is carried through it by the
movements of the ciliary epithelium to the uterus.
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