an inch in diameter, and is a potential life, requiring only contact with the male sperm cell in the proper environment to quicken it into being. The outer transparent wall of the cell covers the inner protoplasm, or yoke. Imbedded in the substance of the yoke is a nucleus called the germinal vesicle. This contains a minute substance termed the germinal spot, which is the life producing element of the ovum.
Another process connected with the reproductive life of woman, also takes place once a month, or more accurately, every twenty-eight days, namely, menstruation. While the latter is closely associated with ovulation, it is not a part of the identical process. The function of menstruation is important enough to receive special attention. This will be taken up later in the present chapter.
Fallopian Tubes. The Fallopian tubes, or oviducts, are two small muscular tubes which lead, one from each ovary to the respective upper, opposite sides of the womb. They are about four inches in length, with a very tiny passage-way, which at its largest diameter is only about the size of a broom straw, while near the womb, it narrows down until the opening is only about the size of a fine bristle.
To guard against the ova's going astray, the end of each tube, near the ovary, becomes larger, with a trumpet-shaped, fringed, extremity. The fringes are called the fimbria.
As the channel of these tubes is very fine, measuring not over one-sixteenth of an inch at the largest diameter, it will be seen that an inflammation or diseased condition will readily clog it up. If there is a stoppage in these tubes, the eggs cannot pass down into the uterus, and the woman is therefore barren, or incapable of bearing children.
The Greek name for the Fallopian tube is "salpinx." This word means "tube." Inflammation of the Fallopian tube, is therefore, called salpingitis. Salpingectomy is a surgical
