THE UTERUS, FALLOPIAN TUBES AND OVARIES


The most useful homeopathy remedies for The Uterus, Fallopian Tubes And Ovaries symptoms from the book The diseases peculiar to women and young children by H.N.Guernsey….


THE uterus is the organ of gestation in which the fecundated ovum is received, nourished and supported till the proper period of its expulsion at parturition. In its virgin state the uterus constitutes the pivot around which play all the physical and nervous energies of the female organism; and its functional perfection exercises a powerfully controlling influence upon the physical health and social and moral happiness. The generative organs constitute the grand centre of the female economy. All the other organisms and functions of the woman are more or less in sympathy with these. And from the full, healthy, and harmonious development of the sexual system come the ruddy cheek, the elastic step, the buoyant, womanly spirit, and all that constancy of love and affection which so pre-eminently characterize, beauty and ennoble the female sex. And the impregnated uterus becomes at once one of the largest and certainly the most important organ in the body of the female in her highest state of physical development, -it being then the true physiological centre of the most exalted vital activity, the reproductive seat of life within life.

This distinction of the virgin from the impregnated uterus, not only underlies the whole character and constitution and function of the organ; but affects also the entire physiological, social, moral and even spiritual nature and condition of the female herself. Both the organ and the individual, in the one case are totally different in structure, function and being, from the organ and the individual in the other. The virgin or unimpregnated uterus has a structure and functions and disorders peculiar to itself. The impregnated uterus also has structure, functions, disorders, difficulties and dangers peculiar to its condition.

The virgin uterus is to be regarded then as a very different organ from the impregnated uterus; even as the virgin female is an entirely different person from one expecting to become a mother. We give then, in the first instance, an account of the virgin uterus; describing its shape, size, structure, position, relations, appendages, functions, and the principal disorders to which it is liable. And subsequently pursue a similar course with reference to the gravid or impregnated uterus; tracing its natural history, both normal and abnormal, from conception to parturition; detailing the various disturbances and dangers incident to the pregnant condition; and reciting the chief characteristic indications for the principal remedies required in their treatment.

THE VIRGIN OR UNIMPREGNATED UTERUS-Is a hollow, pearshaped conoid organ, with its base or larger part turned upwards and forwards, and its apex or smaller extremity looking downwards and backwards. The great importance of this organ and the consequent minuteness of description requisite for its thorough study, have caused it to be divided, nominally and externally at least, into five parts. Of these, the base or upper third is called the fundus; the middle portion or that part between the fundus and the cervix is called the body; the lower third is called the cervix or neck; the lower extremity of the cervix is called the apex; and the orifice or opening of the cervix is called the os externum, os uteri, or mouth of the womb.

The womb has also, externally, an anterior and a posterior face; the anterior being more flat and looking towards the bladder and symphysis pubis while the posterior face is more extensively covered by the peritoneum, more convex, and looks towards the rectum and promontory of the sacrum. There are also three borders or margins; one superior border, which bounds the summit of the fundus; and one right and one left lateral border. To the two latter are attached the broad and round ligaments of the corresponding sides. And finally, the cervix and body of the womb have also an internal surface, composed of mucous membranes and supplied with numerous muciparous follicles and glands.

Fig. 13.

A. The uterus, seen on its anterior face. B. The intra-vaginal portion of the neck of the uterus. C.C. The Fallopian tubes. D. The pavilion or fimbriated extremity of the tube E.E. The ovaries. F. The ligaments of the ovary G.G. The round ligaments H. The vagina laid open.

On the right, the fimbriated extremity of the tube is seen applied to the ovary.

The fundus or base of the womb is convex, looking upwards and forwards, ordinarily inclining towards the arch of the pubis, its summit never rising above the margin of the superior strait; while the superior two -thirds of its anterior and the whole of its posterior surface is covered by the reflected folds of the peritoneum. Some authors distinguish three angles on the external surface of the uterus; two superior,-one on each lateral border, marking the insertion of the Fallopian tubes, -and one inferior, at the point of union of the cervix with the body of the uterus.

The cervix uteri extends about half an inch into the vagina; and at its apex or free extremity is found the os uteri, -sometimes called os tincae, from its fancied resemblance to the mouth of the tenth, a species of small fish. The apex itself at its margin is divided into anterior and posterior lips,-the former, on account of the inclination of this part to the sacrum, being apparently longer than the latter. The occasional and still greater, abnormal length of the anterior lip, by entirely foreclosing the os uteri, has sometimes been the efficient cause of sterility, which can only be obviated by the female, in coition, assuming the prone position on the face and abdomen.

In its embryonic state, the uterus is not to be distinguished in shape and appearance from the vagina, into which it is inserted at the middle of the cervix, and with which it is apparently homologous and continuous. But during childhood the body or upper portion of the uterus gradually increases in size, till at the full period of puberty its shape is pyriform instead of being cylindrical.

The cervix uteri is about one inch in length and constricted at its point of union with the body of the uterus. At this point, which is also called the inferior angle, takes place the in flexion which results from change of position of the fundus and body of the womb. In these cases of anteflexion, retroflexion and lateroflexion, the body of the uterus forms nearly a right angle with the neck. The usual position of the virgin uterus is with the fundus strongly inclined towards the symphysis pubis. This causes the cervix (see Figure of Section of Pelvis on page 36) to incline towards the superior portion of the coccyx, and the os uteri to look posteriorly towards the rectum, instead of looking directly downward in the axis of the inferior strait. The mouth of the womb in young females is often quite small, sometimes almost undiscoverable. But where it thus seems closed up, gentle pressure of the finger will detect a slight depression which will indicate its exact situation.

The vagina embraces the cervix at its upper third. Thus the larger portion of the cervix appears as a free extremity inserted into the vagina; the anterior face of this free extremity being a little shorter than its posterior, face, on account of the oblique manner in which the vagina surrounds the cervix.

The canal of the cervix is about three-fourths of an inch long. In its course from the os tincae or os externum uteri, it first widens, then grows narrower at its entrance into the cavity of the uterus,-this point of entrance being known as the os internum uteri. The mucous lining membrane of the canal of the cervix is arranged in radiating folds, or rugae on either side,- the united radiations of both sides having an appearance very similar to that of a cedar tree ( Thuya occidentalis); hence the name arbor vitae (Fig. 124. O, and Fig. 16, A.) A similar appearance, – to which also the same named is applied,- is seen in the cerebellum, on cutting it longitudinally. The glands of the canal of the cervix will be described in connection with the mucous coat, which lines the inner surface of both the cervix and body of the womb.

From the inner surface of the cervix, we naturally come to the description of that of the body of the womb itself. Thus internal surface of the womb into which that of the cervix leads, and with which it is continuous, is covered with mucous membrane, and abundantly supplied with muciparous follicles, -although these are far less numerous in the body than in the cervix. In the virgin.

Fig. 14.

A. Superior border or fundus of the womb. B. Cavity of the womb. C. Cavity of the neck of the uterus. D. The canal of the Fallopian tube cut open. E. The fimbriated extremity or pavilion, likewise laid open. F.F,. The ovaries, one-half of which has been removed so as to bring into views several of the Graafian vesicles. G. The cavity of the vagina. H.H. The ligaments of the ovaries. G.G. The round ligaments. womb the walls are nearly in apposition; there being ordinarily but little cavity in the empty womb. At the same time the walls are much more vascular and so of a more rosy hue than the parietes of the canal of the cervix. Still the cavity of the womb, such as it is,

H.N. Guernsey
Henry Newell Guernsey (1817-1885) was born in Rochester, Vermont in 1817. He earned his medical degree from New York University in 1842, and in 1856 moved to Philadelphia and subsequently became professor of Obstetrics at the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania (which merged with the Hahnemann Medical College in 1869). His writings include The Application of the Principles and Practice of Homoeopathy to Obstetrics, and Keynotes to the Materia Medica.