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Part VI. •.271* A N A T O M Y. ing in the fubftance of the ate, and which maybe look- dually in breadth in its paffage, and terminating partly like that which is called accelerator in males. ed upon as fmall prodates anfwering to, the glandute proftaticse in males. When comprefied, they difcharge a Thefe two mufcles furround very clofely the lateral parts of the urethra, and of the great orifice. They ex-vifcid liquor. Above the fuperior commiffure, a thin flat ligament runs pand very much as they defcend, and are fpread on the down from each fmall branch of the ofia pubis, which pe- lower and lateral parts of the great orifice; for which netrates the fat in the fubftance of each ala, and is loft reafon feveral anatomifts have looked upon them as muftherein infenfibly near the edge. Thefe may be looked cular fphincters. upon as the ligamenta fufpenforia of the ate. The infe- The nymphse, crifta; clitoridis, or, as they may likerior commiffure of the ate is very thin, or like a membra- wife be termed, ate minores five intern®, are two pronous ligament, and, together with the neighbc. ring parts minent folds of the inner (kin of the great or external .of the inner (ides, it forms a foffula, termed navicularis ate, reaching from the prasputium of the clitoris to the or fcaphoides. The fpace between the inferior commif- two fides of the great orifice of the uterus. They begin .fure and anus, termed perinseum, is about a large fin- very narrow, and, having increafed in breadth in their courfe downward, they are again contracted at their lowger’s breadth in length. The other external parts are fituated in the finus, and er extremity. hid by die ate. Dire&ly under the fuperior commiffure They are of a fpungy fubftance, intermixed with lies the clitoris, with its covering called prasputium. A glands, feveral of which may be perceived by the naked little lower is the orifice of the urethra; and below that eye. Their fituation is oblique, their upper extremities is the orifice of the great canal of the uterus. The circum- lying near each other, and the lower at a much greater ference of this orifice is bordered either by a membranous diftance In married women they are more or lefs flaccid circle, called hymen, or by fleftiy portions, termed carun- and decayed. cute myrtiformes. On each fide of the clitoris begins a ve- By the urethra in females, we mean the urinary dud, ry prominent fold like a crifta, which runs down obliquely the orifice of which is between the nymph® below the on each fide of the orifice of the urethra. Thefe folds glans of the clitoris. The fides of this orifice are a little are termed nymphae, and they might likewife be named prominent and wrinkled, and perforated by fmall lacunas, from which a vifcid or mucilaginous liquor may be criftae clitoridis. The clitoris appears at firft fight like a fmall imperfora- fqueezed. ted glans. Its upper and lateral fides are covered by a The body of the urethra is a fpungy dud of the fame as in males, but much (horter, fituated diredly kind of praeputium, formed by a particular fold of a por- ftrudure tion of the inner fide of the ate; which appears to be under the trunk of the clitoris, and above the great glandular, and to difcharge a certain moifture, and its in- canal of the uterus, adhering to each of thefe canals between which it lies, by membranous filaments. It paffes fide is granulated. By diffedlion, we difcover in the clitoris a trunk and under the cartilaginous arch of the offa pubis, and tertwo branches, as in the penis, made up of a fpungy fub- minates by an oblique opening at the neck of the bladder. ftance, and of very elaftic coats, but without any ure- The great canal is fituated below the urethra, and above the extremity of the inteftinum redum, a little obthra. The .trunk is divided into two lateral parts of a liquely, being more raifed on the inner and back part, middle feptum, from the bifurcation, to the glans, where than on the outer and fore part. it is infenfibly loft. The bifurcation of the trunk is on the edge of the car- Its inner or pofterior extremity joins the extremity of tilaginous arch of the offa pubis; and the branches which the body of the uterus, and furrounds its orifice much in refemble the roots of the corpora cavernofa are inferted the fame manner as the duodenum furrounds the pylorus, in the inferior rami of thefe bones, and in thofe of the or as the ilium is furrounded by the caecum and colon. offa ifchium, where they terminate by degrees ; but there The anterior extremity forms the great orifice, which under that of the urethra, and above the foffula of is fometimes a membranous tube on each fide, which lies the inferior commiffure of the ate. reaches to the tuberofity of the ifchium. The trunk of the clitoris is fuftained by a ligamentum The body of the canal is chiefly made up of a fpungy fnfpenforium fixed in the fymphyfis of the offa pubis, and fubftarice, interwoven with numerous blood-veffels ; and containing this trunk in its duplicature, nearly as in the it is commonly longer and narrower in virgins, than in married women. other fex. Four mufcles or fafciculi of fleftiy fibres are ihferted in Its inner or concave furface, has feveral tranfverfe the trunk of the clitoris, two on each fide. One of rug®, and is covered by a particular membrane. The them runs down on the forefide of the neighbouring cor- rug® are formed by oblong narrow eminences, incurpus cavernofum, and is inferted by a tendinous or apo- vated like portions of arches, placed very near each oneurotic portion, partly in the extremity of the corpus ther, and difpofed in fuch a manner as to divide the . cavernofum, and partly in the tuberofity of the ifchium. cavity of the canal into an upper and lower fide. By the union of the extremities of the upper and lower Thefe two mufcles are called eredtores. The other mufcle on each fide lies under the former, rug®, a kind of raphe or future is formed on the right and runs down on the fide of the urethra and great orifice and left fides ; and both arches are fometimes interfcff^d .©f the uterus, all the way to the anus ; increafing gra- in the middle, and fo form two half-arches. la
