Chap. XXX. Of the greater Neck of the Womb.
IN the Bottom of the Womb we have* 1.1 observed three things; the Bottom it self, the lesser Neck, and the Orifice. In the greater Neck also, three things are to be noted. The Neck it self, the Hymen, and the Mouth of the Bladder. Of the Hymen we shall treat in the following Chap∣ter.
The Neck or Channel of the womb, is by Aristotle also somtimes called Matrix, and the Door of the Womb, Fallopius calls it Sinus pudoris, the Privity. It is a long Channel, being hollow even when the Child is in the womb, admitting both a Probe and a mans finger, as may be seen in such as are new born.
It is situate between the external and the internal Mouth, receiving the Yard like a sheath.
Its Figure. The Neck is somwhat writhen and croo∣ked, also it is shorter and straiter, when it is loose, and fals together; that the internal parts may not be refri∣gerated. But it is straight and widened 1. In carnal Copulation. 2. In the monthly Flux. 3. In the time of Child-birth, when it is exceedingly stretched according to the Shape of the Child; whence also pro∣ceeds the exceeding great pains of women in travel: and then as also during their Courses, women are very much cooled.
Its Magnitude. The length thereof is eight fingers breadth commonly, or seven; so as to be as long as a Mans longest finger. It is as wide as the Intestinum re∣ctum or Arse-gut. But the longitude and latitude of this part are so various, that it is hard to describe them. For in carnal Copulation, it accommodates it self to the length of the Yard, and this Neck becomes longer or shorter, broader, or narrower, and swells sundry waies according to the lust of the woman. And when that happens, the Caruncles swell with Spirits which fill them, as appears in Cows and Bitche•…•… desire Copulation; but the Channel is made narrower and less, as also in the Act of Generation, that it may more close embrace the Yard: and therefore its
Substance is of an hard and nervous flesh, and som∣what spungy, like the Yard; that it may be widened and contracted within, the upper part is wrinkled, when it is not distended, but* 1.2 being widened, it is more slippery and smooth. Howbeit in the Neck of the womb also when it is distended, there are many orbicular wrinkles in the beginning of the chan∣nel near the Privity, most of all in the fore part next the Bladder, less towards the Intestinum rectum on which it rests; and they serve for the greater Titillati∣on caused by the rubbing of the Nut of the Yard a∣gainst the said wrinkles. And in young Maids these wrinkles are straiter, and the Neck narrower, through which the Menstrual blood is voided; also in grown persons that are yet Virgins. But the wrinkles are worn out, and the sides become callous, by reason of frequent rubbing, 1. In old women. 2. In such as have used much Copulation, or have frequently bore Children. 3. In those that have been troubled with a long Flux of the Courses, or of the Whites. And in all these the substance does also become harder, so that it becomes at last gristley, as it were old women, and such as have born many Children. But in young Mai∣dens, it is more soft and delicate.
The Use of the Neck is to receive the Yard being raised, and to draw out the Seed.
Finally, beyond the middle towards* 1.3 the end of the Neck, in the fore and up∣per part, not far from the Privity, comes the Insertion of the Bladder into sight, that the Urin may there be voided by the common Passage. It is as long as a knucle of ones finger, without fleshy, or rather covered with a fleshy Sphincter. Pinaeus ob∣serves that it is black within, of the same substance with the Piss-pipe in Men, as any man may see, now Riola∣nus that told us so.
Wierus hath noted in his Observations, that the ou∣ter extremity of the Neck of the Bladder, does not in all women appear in the same place, in many tis seen above the outer straits of the neck of the womb, under the Nymph; in some few it lies hid inwardly, in the upper part of the Privity. But the entrance into the Bladder, is sound on the back-side, when the Mem∣brane called Hymen is there: of which we are now to speak.