THE ovaries constitute the central head of the female sexual system. This is true of all grades of animal life; throughout the entire scale of creation the ovaries form the ultima ratio of the generation. The uterus derives its stimulus from the excitation of the external organs of generation; but the final cause, the true physiological and vital reason of its existence and action, is to be found in the ovaries. It has been amply shown by the successful experiments of modern observers, that the ovaria are the essential organs of reproduction, and that in them originate the greater proportion of those sympathies which have been so long generalized as uterine; and furthermore that the development of the pelvis, of the uterine system and of the mammae, the function of menstruation and all the peculiarities of the human female, depend upon the ovaries. These supply the ova or seminal vesicles, which, by the stimulus of the seminal virus of the male, may be developed into an individual similar to its progenitors. In fulfilling their appropriate and primary function of ovulation, the ovaries determine also that of menstruation, which is secondary and consequent.
The ovaries have already been described as containing at puberty the seminal vesicles in different states of development. But these ova are discoverable long before the accession of the period of puberty. They may be seen in the ovaries of the new- born babe, and even in those of the foetus in utero. They form therefore an integral part of the ovarian tissue. The ante- pubertal life of the female is one of preparation, of growth in stature and in strength, with especial reference to the perfect fulfilment of the function of the ovaries. Many of the lower orders of the animal creation arrive at maturity much earlier than man. The human female is longer in arriving at the full measure of her development, as her being and destiny are higher. And the same general principle of greater length of preparation and greater results, is seen in the more particular instances of those individuals who commence to menstruate at a period later than the average. Those later in assuming the evidences of maturity are said to be more steadfastly regular in menstruation, and to continue it longer. And the converse is still more evidently true. For as in general all those whose precocious growth, even of the intellectual faculties, attracts so much attention, are seen to become exhausted, almost before they enter upon the race of life; so in the particular instance under consideration of premature development of the sexual system, the earlier young people arrive at puberty, so much the earlier do they grow old. And this is as manifestly true of nations as if individuals. Those races in which, like the Hindoo, the women arrive at sexual maturity at the earlier periods, as in the twelfth, year, are effete, emasculate, and doomed to be conquered by those in which the period of puberty is longer delayed. And this is true independently of those influences of climate or temperature, which may apparently seem to have conduced to much premature development. Thus the female, after a preparatory period of constitutional incubation, becomes so highly developed in her entire system in general, especially in her sexual organization, and more particularly still in her ovaries, that these minute seminal vesicles, these ova or eggs, mature and begin to burst through the outer covering of the ovary itself. Previous to the final accession of the period of puberty, the ova have been but imperfectly developed; and have in consequence remained comparatively dormant. But at this time a new life a new life and vigor spring up in the ovaries, which rapidly develop the external form of the female herself in general, and all the organs of her sexual system in particular. For, as the soul animates the body, so by the interior, vital change and new life and vigor of the ovaries, the lank and lean, homely, awkward and boyish form of the school girl is transformed into that full development of neck and bust, that rounded contour of the hips and perfect loveliness of the features, which the poet so aptly terms “beautiful exceedingly. And with advancing years, the beauty of “sweet sixteen” is still further developed under the unconscious influence of the higher life, which still more abundantly flows into and animates her whole system throughout the perfect action of her ovaries. For all the wondrous beauty of the woman, inward beauty, which may light up the plainest features with a most surpassing loveliness, all that fascinating influence which the purest-minded young woman most powerfully and unconsciously exerts upon all of the opposite sex around her, making them admire and even love her, is but the natural and inevitable expression of her capacity for receiving and reciprocating the highest affections of the human nature and of fulfilling, in the reproduction of the species, the highest uses of her being.
The period of the accession of puberty varies, according to climate and race hereditary and social circumstances, from the thirteenth to the sixteenth year. But if we take the fourteenth year for the average, as is probably the case in this country, half as many more years must be spent before the young woman’s constitution and sexual organization will have acquired its fullest development, that is, become capable of bearing the most healthy children, in the easiest and most healthy manner. Some young women indeed arrive earlier at their highest maturity; as some also do at a still later period; but in general the average age of the first ovulation being at fourteen, we may assume the period of the most perfect and complete development of this function to be at about the twenty-first year.
OVULATION, or the functional action of the ovaries, consists in the maturation of the ova and in their extrusion through the ovarian surfaces. This functional activity occurs in the normal state, at regularly recurring periods, usually once in twenty eight days. And in many women this period returns with great exactness, at the same day of the week, or even in some instances at the same time of the day. This increased activity of the ovaries is not far removed from a congestion of these organs; and in many cases the entire system sympathizes in this disturbances of the ordinary sanguineous and nervous circulations. And this disturbance of the whole system is no less intimately connected with the other function of menstruation, as it is seen to be very greatly and immediately relieved by the accession of the menstrual flux.
The manner in which the process of ovulation takes place is so admirably described by Dalton, physiology, p. 567, that we quote it in full, and copy the accompanying very elegant illustrations. In the earlier periods of life, in man and the higher animals, the egg is contained ion a Graafian follicle which closely embraces its exterior, and is consequently hardly larger than the egg itself. As puberty approaches, those follicles which are situated near the free surface of the ovary become enlarged by the accumulation of a colorless, serous fluid in their cavity. We then find that the ovary, when cut open, shows a considerable number of globular, transparent vesicles, readily perceptible by the eye, the smaller of which are deep-seated, but which increase in size as they approach the free surface of the organ. These vesicles are the Graafian follicles, which, in consequence of the advancing maturity of the eggs contained in them,. gradually enlarge as the period of generation approaches.
The Graafian follicle at this time consists of a closed globular sac or vesicle, the external wall of the which, though quite translucent, has a fibrous texture under the microscope, and is well supplied with blood-vessels. This fibrous and vascular wall is distinguished by the name of the “membrane of the vesicle”. It is not very firm in texture, and if roughly handles is easily ruptured.
The membrane of the vesicle is lines throughout by a thin layer of minute granular cells, which form for it a kind of epithelium, similar to the epithelium of the pleura, pericardium and other serous membranes. This layer is termed the membrana granulosa. It adheres but slightly to the membranes of the vesicle, and may easily be detached by careless manipulation before the vesicle is opened, being then mingled in the form of light and shreds, with the serous fluid contained in the vesicle.
At the most superficial part of the Graafian follicle, or that which is nearest the surface of the ovary, the membrana granulosa is thicker than elsewhere. Its cells are here accumulated in a king of mound or “heap, which has received the name cumulus proligerus. It is sometimes called the discus proligerus, because the thickened mass, when viewed from above, has a somewhat circular or disk-like form. In the centre of this thickened portion of the membrana granulosa the egg is embedded. It is accordingly always situated at the most superficial portion of the follicle, and advances in this way toward the surface of the ovary.
