The sexual life of woman in its physiological, pathological and hygienic aspectsKisch, E. Heinrich (Enoch Heinrich)
Science
The sexual life of woman in its physiological, pathological and hygienic aspects
Kisch, E. Heinrich (Enoch Heinrich)
Gynecology; Menstruation; Women -- Diseases
We append the account given by _Pfannenstiel_ regarding the ovarian
follicles. He writes: “In correspondence with the especial function of
the female reproductive gland, which is to bring to maturity and to
evacuate only after the lapse of a considerable period and at successive
intervals, the ova which it has contained from the very outset, we find
that primitive follicles continue to exist in the ovary up to the very
end of the period of sexual activity, though naturally in diminishing
numbers; and the size and shape of these primitive follicles remain
nearly identical throughout the various periods of life. As the follicle
ripens, the epithelium grows, the cells becoming cubical with a rounded
nucleus, and increasing in number by cell-division, so that several
layers are formed. As soon as these layers are three or four in number,
a space, at first slit-shaped, forms in the epithelium on the peripheral
surface of the ovum; this space is filled with fluid, known as the
liquor folliculi; the peripheral layer of cells, the membrana granulosa,
is thus separated from the mass of epithelial cells immediately
enveloping the ovum, the discus proligerus, which is situate in the side
of the follicle adjacent to the hilum of the ovary. By the increase of
the liquor folliculi the graafian follicle is formed, a vesicle the
envelope of which is formed by the multilaminar membrana granulosa,
whilst in the pole of the vesicle directed toward the hilum ovarii is
the ovum imbedded in the mass of cells forming the discus proligerus, a
mass which has the form of a truncated cone. The liquor folliculi is
formed by the epithelium, the nuclei of which disappear by chromatolysis
or by simple atrophy whilst the cell-bodies liquefy in consequence of
albuminous, not fatty, degeneration (_Schottländer_). Within the
epithelium of the follicle we find the faintly glistening epithelial
vacuoles of _Fleming_, likewise cells which liquefy and assist in
increasing the bulk of the liquor folliculi. This liquor is a thin,
serous fluid, and contains albumin. * * * Every graafian follicle has a
bilaminar investing membrane, which is formed by the ovarian
stroma. * * * The ovum of the growing follicle increases in size very
slowly indeed, attaining on the average, according to _Nagel_, a
diameter of 165 to 170 µ, it retains its zona pellucida, the greater
part of the protoplasm of the cell is transformed into deutoplasm
(food-yolk, or yolk-granules), the nucleus assumes an eccentric
position. Between the zona pellucida and the cell-body a narrow
perivitelline space appears. The ovum is then full-grown, but not yet
fully prepared for fertilization; for this, maturation is required,
certain changes in the germinal vesicle, which occur after the bursting
of the follicle. * * * As a rule each follicle contains a single ovum.
But two and even three ova have beyond doubt been observed in one
follicle.”
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