IN MAIDS however its Cavity is much less, and can scarcely contain the Bigness of a Bean: whereas in Women with Child, the Dimensions and Figure, as well as the Cavity itself differs, according to the different Times of GESTATION.
AS I have said before, its Anterior Part coheres above with the BLADDER, below with the RECTUM; the Hinder Part being free: But the lateral Parts are tied by Four Ligaments of different Sorts; whereof Two are placed Above, and Two Below; the Superiors are called Ligamenta Lata, or broad; the Inferiors Rotunda, or round Ligaments.
THE two broad Ligaments are Membranous, and call’d Alæ Vespertilionum; which spring from the Peritonæum, and join the Womb on each Side to the OSSA ILIA: So that the OVARIA are fasten’d to one End of them, and the Tubæ Fallopianæ lie along the Other.
THE two round Ligaments arise from the Fore and lateral Part of the Bottom of the Womb, and pass thro’ the Rings of the Muscles of the Abdomen, terminating in Fat near the Groins. They are of a hard Substance, pretty Big at the Bottom of the Womb; but smaller and flatter, as they approach the OS PUBIS. Now Those Four Ligaments serve to keep the Womb streight, steady, and firm in its proper Place before BIRTH, and to restore it to its natural Position, by the Help of Contraction, After.
THE Orifice of the Womb opening into the VAGINA, is of the same Figure with the Nut of the PENIS: This in VIRGINS is very small, scarcely admitting a Specillum or Probe; in Others it is much larger; but in Women with Child, several small Ducts or Vesicles open among the Rugæ, which discharge a Glutinous Liquor to close and seal up this Orifice, till the Time of BIRTH.
THE Substance of the Womb is Solid and Muscular, composed of a various Plexus, or Web of fleshy Fibres, woven like a Net, with the Interposition of innumerable Vessels, of ARTERIES, VEINS, NERVES, &c. Without, it is surrounded with a Thin and Smooth Membrane from the Peritonæum; and within its Cavity, furnished with a Thick, Porous, and Nervous one, call’d the proper Membrane of the Womb.
THE Veins and Arteries of the Womb, proceed from the Spermatick Vessels, and Hypogastricks; which Vessels are all inserted in the proper Membrane. The Arteries convey the Blood for its Nourishment; which accumulating and abounding there in great Quantity, at Maturity of Years (when no more is requir’d for the Encrease or Growth of the Body) it distends the Vessels, and distills into the Bottom of the Womb: Whence proceeds the Blood which nourisheth the Foetus in the Pregnant Woman, and the Monthly Terms or Menstrua in the Woman not with Child; which Evacuation, Men Themselves are also subject to in a great Measure; (notwithstanding their inconsiderate Detractions and vain Talk on this Head) save only that in Them the Redundant Humour passes off a different Way by Urine, by the Nose, and sometimes by the Hemorrhoidal Veins, &c.
THE VEINS Serve only to reconduct to the Heart, the Blood which is neither wholly evacuated nor consum’d, as I observed more at large Before. But the Nerves arise from the Intercostals, and those of the Os Sacrum; remarkable Branches of which run along the Back of the Clitoris, from whence this Part is susceptible of the very slightest Impression.
THERE are moreover other small Vessels, springing one from another, which tend to this Orifice, and serve in Plethorick Women with CHILD, to carry off the Superfluity of the Humours. And, in short, prudent Nature, seems to have so ordered These to prevent ABORTION, which might easily happen, if the pregnant Womb was too much expos’d, or was to open itself for this Purpose.
THE Seminal or Spermatick Vessels are Four, like as they are computed to be also in Men, and differ only in being shorter. The Blood Vessels are very winding; and the Spermatick Arteries arising with a narrow Origin from the Aorta, form various Plexus’s, and Inosculations, as These do: And the Spermatick Veins (tho’ without Valves) have the like Inosculations with the Arteries, which however in These are more conspicuous.