The vagina consists of an internal mucous lining (membrane) continuous above with the mucous membrane lining the womb and below with the covering of the labia majora.  The next covering (inward) is a muscular coat consisting of two layers—­an external longitudinal and an internal circular.  There is a layer of erectile tissue between the muscular coat and mucous lining.  The lower end of the vagina is surrounded by a band of striped muscular fibers comprising the sphincter muscle of the vagina (sphincter vagina).

The internal organs of generation, more commonly called the pelvic organs.  These comprise the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

[492 Mothers’ remedies]

The womb is the organ of pregnancy, and receives the fruitful egg (ovum), supports it during its development and expels it at the time of labor (parturition).  In form it is pear-shaped, weighs from 12 drams to 3 ounces and is situated in the pelvic cavity, between the bladder and the rectum, with its base upwards and its apex, smaller end downward.  Its upper broad extremity is called the fundus—­base of the organ, and the lower, constricted, narrowed portion is called the Cervix (neck or constricted portion).  The body of the womb gradually becomes narrower from the fundus to the Cervix.

Its anterior surface is covered on its upper three-quarters by the peritoneum, while the lower fourth is connected with the bladder.  The peritoneum covers the whole of the posterior surface.  The womb is held up (suspended) in the pelvis by ligaments; two anterior, womb and bladder (utero-vesical), two posterior, womb-sacral (utero-sacral), two lateral broad ligaments, and two round ligaments.  The womb sacral (utero-sacral) which holds the womb well up in the hollow of the sacrum and the round ligaments which keep the womb well forward enter most actively into the support of the womb.  The round ligaments are strong muscular fibrous cords and serve to hold the womb forward.  When pregnancy exists they increase in size with the womb, and keep the fundus forward in its excursion upwards into the abdominal cavity, and after confinement, become smaller with the womb, guiding the womb back again to its regular position.  The broad ligaments are little more than reflection of the peritoneum serving to support the vessels that nourish, as they go to and from the womb.

The womb has three coats, enclosing a central cavity.  This cavity of the womb is small by comparison with the size of the organ and it communicates with the Fallopian tubes by two minute openings at each side of the body, and with the vagina below, through the mouth or opening of the womb.