Identifier: 101563239.nlm.nih.gov
Title: The principles and practice of obstetrics
Year: 1862 (1860s)
Authors: Bedford, Gunning S., 1806-1870
Subjects: Obstetrics
Publisher: New York : William Wood
Contributing Library: U.S. National Library of Medicine
Digitizing Sponsor: Open Knowledge Commons, U.S. National Library of Medicine

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from the superior to the inferior angles ofthe organ. Volume of the Uterus.—The size of the uterus varies. In theinfant, it is small; in the girl, toward the advent of puberty, itincreases in volume, and continues to become developed until thechild-bearing period. In the adult woman, its usual length is threeinches, and, in its widest portion, about two inches and a half.After the period of child-bearing has passed, it again becomes muchless in volume, and not unfrequently exhibits a condition of atrophy.In shape, the organ is pyramidal, and an accurate idea may begathered of its general form, by dividing a pear longitudinally, theupper portion of the section representing the fundus, the lowerthe cervix. Structure.—In structure, the uterus is composite, consisting of 6 82 TH3 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF OBSTETRK an externa) coat, an internal ooat, an intermediate or musculartissue, blood-vessels, nerves, and lymphatics. External Goat.—The external or serous covering is formed by
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Fts. 84. that important membrane, the peritoneum, and is arranged in thefollowing manner: It covers only the two superior thirds of theanterior surface of the uterus (Fig. 34), and then reflects upwardon the posterior surface of the bladder; this anterior fold of theperitoneum constitutes the anterior broad ligament of the organ.The inferior third of the anterior surface, which is not covered byperitoneum, is that particular portion of this surface which, throughthe medium of cellular tissue, is in adhesion with the bas-fond ofthe bladder. Do not forget, therefore, that the bladder is in unionwith the lower portion of the uterus; for the recollection of thisfact will at once disclose the essential circumstance that displace-ments of tlu uterus must of necessity lead, in greater or less degree,to displacements of the bladder; and, again, it will remind you thatthe direction of the urethra will be modified, during pregnancy, inconsequence of the change in the position of the developing

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