A systeme of anatomy, treating of the body of man, beasts, birds, fish, insects, and plants illustrated with many schemes, consisting of variety of elegant figures, drawn from the life, and engraven in seventy four folio copper-plates. And after every part of man's body hath been anatomically described, its diseases, cases, and cures are concisely exhibited. The first volume containing the parts of the lowest apartiments of the body of man and other animals, etc. / by Samuel Collins ...

CHAP. XV. Of the Uterus.

THe Uterus is called Matrix, quod Matrem Referat, as entertaining the Foetus in the tender Embraces of its bosome, wherein it is secured from outward accidents, and cherished by Vital Heat, flowing from Blood, contained in the Vessels of the Uterus.

It is seated in the lowest Region of the third Apartiment, * 1.1 in a peculiar place, called the Pelvis, between the Intestinum rectum and Bladder of Urine, that the mean situation of the place of our Production, between two Recep∣tacles, the one of grosser, the other of thinner Excrements, might be a remem∣brancer of the mean condition of our first Propagation, and make us reflect upon our selves in low Apprehensions of our Primitive estate.

Nature, * 1.2 out of great discretion, hath lodged the Uterus in a most safe Re∣pository, guarded before with the Sharebones, and behind with the Os Sacrum, and on each side with the Bones of the Ilium, as encircled with strong walls, for its greater safety and preservation.

And the Cavity in Women (hemmed in with variety of large Bones) hath greater Dimensions than in Men, as making provision for the distention of the Uterus, in case of a Foetus.

The Uterus is not lodged exactly in the middle of the Pelvis, but some∣times inclineth to one, sometimes to the other side of the Hypogastrium, as learned De Graaf hath observed.

The Ʋterus, * 1.3 that it might be kept in its proper Seat, is fastened, in rela∣tion to its neck, (which is very short) to the Vagina, Intestinum rectum, and Bladder of Urine, by the interposition of many Membranes, and hath its bottom free from all Connexion with other parts, to have the advantage of

divers degrees of distention, as the Foetus obtaineth greater and greater di∣mensions; and as not being connected in its bottom to any neighbouring part, it hath liberty to contract it self upon the exclusion of the Foetus and its appurtenances, the Amnios, Chorion, and Placenta Uterina.

The Uterus is adorned with variety of Figures, * 1.4 in Maids it is endued with somewhat of a Pear-like figure, and not with a round or quadrangular, as some will have it; in Women great with Child, in the first month it some∣what resembleth the Bladder of Urine, and it becometh more and more ex∣panded according to the greater and greater Dimensions of the Foetus, the body of it (being considered without the Neck and Vagina) is adorned almost with an Orbicular Figure.

The Neck and Vagina of the impregnated Womb is not co-extended with the body of the Uterus, but reteineth the same figure and distention it had before its impregnation, which is observable not only in Women, but in Cows, Sheep, and in other Animals too.

Galen being only versed in the Dissection of Bruits, * 1.5 did assign Horns to the Uterus of Women, which is endued only with one Cavity and not with two, as in other Animals, who have distinct Cavities parted one from ano∣ther, who begin almost immediately after the termination of the Vagina and Neck, and pass afterward in a kind of Semicircles, endued with many incurvations somewhat resembling the horns of Rams, and in the Uterus of bruit Animals not impregnated, the horns are carried without variety of Flexures in a more even circumference.

The Ʋterus as some imagine, * 1.6 is parted into many distinct Cells (as so many different places of Conception) some are seated in the right side as peculiar to Males, and others in the left ordained for Females, and the se∣venth placed in the middle of the other six, as instituted for Hermophradites, which are Monsters of Nature, and therefore it is most improbable that she should contrive any place, or take any care of them, and as for the other six Cells, they oppose Ocular Demonstration, by reason I have seen Wombs often dissected and have very much inspected their inward Cavity relating to the Body of the Uterus, and have found it wholly destitute of Cells, as being one simple Cavity, which is very small in Maids, and not much grea∣ter in Women, unless it be distended with a Foetus.

The Womb may be said to consist of two Cavities, * 1.7 the one seated in the Neck, and the other in the body of it, which is somewhat oblong, and ap∣peareth more narrow in its beginning near the Neck, and is somewhat larger toward the bottom of the Uterus, whose inward Orifice is so strait, that it is not receptive of a small Probe, and therefore is not capable to admit the Glans of the Penis in Coition, as Learned Spigelius imagineth, and if this Orifice be overmuch relaxed, it hindereth Conception, which happeneth in an immoderate Flux of the Menstrua, which being over, the Orifice of the Uterus is shut up close to keep it from the coldness of the Air, which would else prove very offensive and prejudicial to the Ʋterus.

The Uterus is endued with an Orifice (as some say) resembling the mouth of a Tench: * 1.8 And Galen thinketh it to be like the Glans of the Penis in shape, upon this apprehension, that it doth enter in Coition into the Neck of the Ʋterus, conjoyned immediately to the body of it, which cannot be done but by a Penis of a Monstrous length, which giveth a high discompo∣sure to the orifice of the Uterus, as being very small in circumference, which is somewhat less in Maids than in Women having born Children; and if it be too much relaxed is one cause of Barrenness.

The Cavity with which the body of the Womb is endued, * 1.9 hath but small dimensions in Maids and Women not great with Child, scarce admitting a very small VVallnut into its bosom.

The Figure of this Cavity is somewhat Triangular, of which the most long angle is that of the Neck, * 1.10 and the other two relating to the bottom of the Uterus have two small holes through which the most thin and spirituous Par∣ticles of the Seminal Liquor are transmitted into the Tubae Fallopianae, the Oviducts leading to the Ovarys.

The inward Cavity, * 1.11 appertaining to the body of the Uterus, is encircled with a thin Coat, pinked with many minute holes, as well as the inward Integument of the Vagina and Neck, through which a serous thin Matter doth ouse into the Cavity of the Uterus, which speaketh great pleasure in time of Coition: This Matter hath been conceived by the Antients to be Seminal Liquor, which I intend to handle more fully in a subsequent Discourse.

The Magnitude of the Uterus in point of Dimensions is very Various by reason of Age, Temperament, indulgence of Venery, Child-bearing, &c. and its ordinary length from the Orifice to its superiour Region, commonly called the Bottom, is aequivalent to three or four transverse Fingers breadth, and about the Termination two and a half, and not above two about the Neck of it, and above all, the Uterus is endued with a very great thickness equalling a Fingers breadth, which is very much, if regard be had to small length and breadth.

The Uterus in Maids and VVomen not with Child, is confined within the walls of the Share-bones, Os Sacrum, and Bones of the Ilion, which are of a narrow compass, which the uterus impraegnated, doth not only fill, but extend it self to, and sometimes above the Navil, compressing the Guts by its great distention; and which is more wonderful, speaking the great VVis∣dom of the Omnipotent Protoplast, that when the Uterus is highly enlarged, that it increaseth in thickness as well as circumference contrary to the na∣ture of a distended Bladder and Stomach which grow thinner and thinner, as they are more and more expanded by a greater and greater quantity of Con∣tents, but on the other hand the Uterus when its Cavity is more and more amplified according to the greater and greater dimensions of the Foetus as it obtaineth more and more perfection of parts, * 1.12 then the substance of the Ute∣rus groweth more plumpe, and the Coats become thick and fibrous, and the Carnous and Nervous Fibres are made more great and strong to comport with the weight and motion of a sometimes heavy and vigorous Foetus; so that its strong and thick Fibrous Compage doth preserve it self secure against all danger of Laceration. * 1.13

The inward substance, when the Foetus approacheth the Birth seemeth to be despoiled of its Membranaceous and Glandulous nature, as putting on a more fleshy habit, by reason it is endued with large Blood-vessels, and grea∣ter fleshy Fibres, much increasing the substance of the Uterus.

And I conceive there is another wonder as great as any, to whom the Womb is incident, that when it hath discharged its troublesome Guest and Attendants, she returneth to her former state of small Dimensions in a very short space, which is accomplished by the strong Fleshy Fibres of the Uterus, reducing its admirable and great expansion to a narrow circumfe∣rence confined within the strait enclosure of the Pelvis.

The Uterus is clothed with many Coats, * 1.14 the first is Membranous and is a common Integument borrowed from the Peritonaeum, a common Parent of all upper Coats enwrapping the Viscera of the lowest Apartiment, it is inte∣grated of Membranous interspersed with Nervous Fibres running in several Positions, so closely conjoyned to each other, that they seem to be one entire compage.

The outward surface of this Membrane is besprinkled with a serous Li∣quor, and the Uterus by divers thin Membranes sprouting out of this Coat is affixed to the Intestinum rectum, Bladder of Gall, and other neighbouring parts.

The second Integument may be called Carnous principally found in the superior Region of the Uterus, beset with circular, Long, and Oblique Fibres, * 1.15 which are very serviceable in contraction of the Womb, first performed in the bottom of it, whereby the Foetus is carried toward the Orifice and Va∣gina Uteri in order to its Birth; the Fibres do very much assist the motions of the Foetus commonly called Throws, in order to facilitate the parting the Child from the Uterus to which it adhereth, and to convey it through the Vagina into the World; These Carnous Fibres do also promote the flux of the Menstrua and Lochia, by producing after Pains, the good effects of a bad cause.

The third Coat is Nervous, and is composed of many Nervous Fibres, * 1.16 finely interwoven, which do give a most acute sensation to the inward surface of the Ʋ••erus; This Coat is derived from the inward substance of the Uterus, to which it is so firmly fastened, that it cannot be parted without La∣ceration.

The inward substance of the Uterus lodged between the Coats to which it firmly adhereth by the interposition of Vessels, * 1.17 and is a Composition of numerous small Glands so finely united to each other by many thin Mem∣branes, that they seem to constitute one entire substance, and in truth are several Glands (of which every one is encircled with a proper Coat) and are so many Systems of Arteries, Veins, Nerves, * 1.18 Lymphaeducts and Excre∣torys: This Substance is endued with a whitish Colour, and somewhat of a Spongy nature, much resembling the Glandulous Compage relating to other parts of the Body.

The common use of this Substance is to depurate the mass of Blood and Nervous Liquor, * 1.19 whose Recrements are transmitted into the Lymphaeducts which at last discharge their Liquor into the common Receptacle, and in ill habits of Body the vitiated serous parts of the Blood, and a great quan∣tity of gross Chyme not assimilated in Blood (which being associated with it) are sometimes carried down by the descendent Trunck of the Aorta and Hy∣pogastrick Arteries, into the Glands of the Uterus, where a Secretion is made of the Foeculencies from the more refined parts of the Blood, which are entertained into the extremities of the Hypogastrick Veins, and return∣ed toward the Heart, while the more Excrementitious parts of the Vital Liquor are received into Excretory Ducts, by which they are discharged into the Cavity of the Womb, and thence transmitted through the Neck and Vagina Uteri; so that the Glands of this part are so many Colatories of the Blood secerning the Recrements from it, and conveying them through proper Channels into the bosom of the Womb, and are called by the La∣tins, Fluor Albus, and by the English, the Whites.

This Glandulous Substance (as I humbly conceive) may claim to it self another use, * 1.20 which may seem probable during the time of Womens

Terms, or Menstruous Purgations, in which the Vital Liquor hath a more free recourse by the Hypogastrick Arteries into the Glands of the Womb, wherein a Secretion is made of the foeces of the Blood from the more pure parts, which are received into the roots of the Hypogastrick Veins, and the Recrements of the Purple Liquor are conveyed through the Excretory Ducts, into the Cavity of the Uterus, and are from thence discharged by the Carnous Fibres (contracting the capacity of the Womb) into the Neck and Vagina of it.

This Glandulous Substance hath great use in the time of Womens lying in, before which the course of the Menstrua is suppressed for many Months; whereupon the Blood contracteth many Impurities, which are separated from the Vital Juyce in these Glands, and carried through the Excretories into the Chamber of the VVomb, and thence expelled by the help of the fleshy Fibres straightning the Cavity of the Uterus, and squeezing the Lochia into its Neck and Vagina.

Between the Membranes of the VVomb when impregnated, * 1.21 is not only lodged a Glandulous, but a Carnous and Fibrous Contexture, which ob∣taineth with the Membranes a greater thickness, proceeding from a quan∣tity of Blood, having a more free access to the inward Recesses of the Ute∣rus, wherein this Carnous Substance is produced, interspersed with many strong Fibres, which highly contract the body of the Uterus in Child-birth, and much contribute to the exclusion of the Foetus.

The VVomb is furnished with variety of Vessels, * 1.22 Arteries, Veins, Nerves, Lymphaeducts and Excretory Ducts.

The Arteries borrow their rise from the Spermatick and Hypogastrick branches † 1.23 of which these are conceived to come from the upper Region and others from the under Region, and others make their progress toward the bottom of the Uterus † 1.24.

And many branches are dispersed into the Neck and Vagina Uteri, * 1.25 and the Artery derived from the Spermatick espouseth so near an association with the eminent branch of the Hypogastrick † 1.26, that their branches can hardly be distinguished from each other, and their Terminations are so mutually interwoven, that they cannot be clearly discerned from each other, by rea∣son they make such mutual Anastom••ses

Divers Arteries do accompany the sides of the VVomb with many Di∣varications which do sport themselves in numerous Ramulets, taking their progress in the fore and hinder part and inward substance of the Uterus in crooked Circumvolutions, and the Arteries of one side do entertain an enter∣course with the other by mutual Inosculations † 1.27, whereupon if you immit your breath by a Blow-Pipe into the Arteries of one side, presently will suc∣ceed an intumescence of the other, which affordeth a pleasant treat to our Eyes, which will be more happily performed if you take off the outward Coat of the Uterus, (propagated from the rim of the Belly) without any violation offered to the Vessels, whereupon you may most clearly see upon Inflation the various divarications of Arteries, relating to each side, and how they are carried in many Flexures, and where the several Inosculations of fruitful Branches are made in each side of the Uterus.

Perhaps it will be worth our inquiry upon what account so many Anasto∣m••ses of Arterial Branches are found in divers regions of the Womb, * 1.28 so that one side of it maintaineth a correspondence with the other in a mutual enter∣course of Blood, which is wisely contrived by Nature to prevent the Stag∣nation of it (as I conceive) in the Arteries endued with great Maeanders,

which much checketh the violent motion of the Purple Liquor, whereupon various Inosculations are instituted, that when some branches of Arteries are obstructed, the neighbouring branches being open, may supply their places as their Delegates; so that these mutual Inosculations of the Arterial branches seated in each side of the Womb, will readily transmit the Blood out of one side to the other.

Some curious Persons may ask a reason why the Arteries furnishing each side of the Ʋterus with various Branches, * 1.29 take their progress in many Flex∣ures and Circumvolutions, which is ordered (as I conceive) in great Pru∣dence by the Grand Architect, to prevent the Laceration of the Arteries, when the Ʋterus is highly distended by the increment and bulk of the Foetus; and upon that account the Vagina hath fewer Arteries, carried in more striat Positions than those of the body of the Uterus, by reason the Va∣gina admitteth no alteration in its Cavity in reference to Nature, when the bosom of the Womb is expanded to greater and greater degrees by the more and more enlarged dimensions of the Foetus.

The Veins are the associates of the Arteries in all regions of the Uterus, and a great branch of the Spermatick or preparing Vein (into which many Ramulets do Coalesce) doth descend to the Womb, Enameling the Body and Vagina of it with fruitful Ramifications † 1.30, And also each side of the Uterus is endued with a large Hypogastrick branch † 1.31, emitting many other Ramulets.

The Ramifications of the preparing Veins have mutual Inosculations (as well as the Arteries) so that they seem sometimes to be but one Vessel, by rea∣son they espouse so intimate a converse by mutual Perforations, carrying Blood out of one Vein into another, in numerous Divarications, to prevent a stop of the retrograde motion of the Blood in the Veins of the Uterus toward the Heart.

The Arteries and Veins of the Womb †, admit great alteration in Wo∣men great with Child, and then have their Dimensions much more enlarged and distended by a more copious quantity of Vital Liquor, so that the little Finger may be immitted into the cavity of the Vessels, when the Lochia do flow, which ceasing, the Arteries and Veins contract themselves and return to their former more small dimensions.

And it may seem very probable that the Arteries are more enlarged in time of the Menstrua, * 1.32 wherein the Blood hath a more free recourse than ordinary, by the Spermatick and Hypogastrick Branches, into the Vessels of the Womb, whereupon they acquire a greater Circumference, as distended with larger streams of Blood, whence Pains often arise, when the Source of Vital Liquor is restrained by the narrow Terminations of the Arteries, so that it cannot be freely impelled into the substance of the Glands, and afterwards by the excretory Ducts into the Bosom of the Womb.

The Uterus is furnished both in its Coats and substance, * 1.33 with a great com∣pany of Nervous Fibres, which impart a most accute sensation to the Womb, sufficiently evidenced in great pleasure in Coition, and in unspeakable Pain in Child-birth. These Nerves take their Origens from the Par Vagum, and from vertebral Nerves derived from the Os Sacrum, and dispense a great num∣ber of Fibres into all the Regions of the Womb.

The Ʋterus also is not only accommodated with Arteries, Veins, * 1.34 and Nerves, but Lymphaeducts too, which take their rise from the Glands of the Womb, and afterward pass towards its Circumference, and are branched o∣ver the Hypogastrick Veins, and pass from part to part, till they arrive at

the common receptacle, into which they discharge the Streams of Lymphatick Liquor.

The Vessels of the Womb are consigned to various uses; * 1.35 the Arteries im∣port Blood into the Membranes and Substance of the womb, and the Veins being their Companions, do assist the motion of the Purple Liquor, toward the Confines of the womb, and carry it on, making good its retrograde Motion toward the Center of the Body: The Nerves do convey Nervous Liquor, impraegnated with Animal Spirits, into the ambient parts and more inward Recesses of the womb; and the Lymphaeducts do transmit the Recrements of the Vital and Nervous Juice into the outward Coat of the Ʋterus, and from thence through various parts into the common Receptacle.

The use of the womb is partly to depurate the Blood, * 1.36 which is accomplish∣ed in the substance of the womb, made up of numerous Glands, wherein a Secretion is made of the more profitable Parts from the Recrements, which are carried through proper Ducts into the Cavity of the womb, in the time of its Monthly Purgation.

Another and the more noble use of the Uterus, * 1.37 is to be a place or Bosom to form and cherish the Foetus, which is done by degrees, as one part is fra∣med after another in Seminal Liquor, contained in an Egg (encircled with a thin Membrane) transmitted from the Ovary by an Oviduct into the Cham∣ber of the VVomb, where it is enlivened with Vital Heat coming from the Blood, and when the Seminal Liquor is concreted into various parts, and the Foetus perfectly formed, it is nourished with Alimentary Liquor, contained within the Amnion, enclosed with the Chorion and inward Coat of the VVomb, which enwrap it as so many Swadling Bands, cloathing the Foetus, and securing it from the Coldness of the Air, and the Danger of out∣ward Accidents.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The situation of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.2

  Parts confi∣••ing on the Ʋterus.
• * 1.3

  The connexi∣on of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.4

  The Figure of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.5

  The Ʋterus in a Woman is destitute of Horns.
• * 1.6

  The body of the Ʋterus hath but one simple Cavity void of Cells.
• * 1.7

  The neck and body of the Womb hath two Cavities.
• * 1.8

  The Orifice of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.9

  The Dimen∣fions of Ʋterus is small in Maids.
• * 1.10

  The Figure of the Cavity of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.11

  The inward Coat of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.12

  The Coats of the Ʋterus grown thic∣ker when en∣larged by the Foetus.
• * 1.13

  The substance of the Womb groweth more fleshy about the time of the birth of the Foetus.
• * 1.14

  The first and Membranous Coat of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.15

  The second and Carnous Integument of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.16

  The third and Nervous Coat of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.17

  The inward Substance of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.18

  The Glands of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.19

  The use of the Substance of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.20

  Another use of the Glan∣dulous sub∣stance of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.21

  The Fibrous and Carnous Compage of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.22

  The Vessels of the Ʋterus.
• † 1.23

  T. 14. H. H. The Origen of the Arte∣ries of the Womb.
• † 1.24

  T. 14. Q.
• * 1.25

  The prepa∣ring Arteries do associate with the Hy∣pogastrick.
• † 1.26

  T. 14. F. F. F. F.
• † 1.27

  T. 14. I. I. I. I.
• * 1.28

  The use of the Inosculations of Arteries.
• * 1.29

  The use of the progresses of Arteries in Flexures.
• † 1.30

  T. 14. K. K. K. K.
• † 1.31

  G. G.
• * 1.32

  The Arteries are more en∣larged in the time of the Menstrua.
• * 1.33

  The Nervous Fibres of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.34

  The Lymphae∣ducts of the Ʋterus.
• * 1.35

  The uses of the Vessels re∣lating to the Womb.
• * 1.36

  The first use of the Womb.
• * 1.37

  The second use of the Ʋterus.