The genito-urinary system in monotremes and marsupials / by William Colin MacKenzie ; assisted by William J. Owen.

  • William Colin Mackenzie
Date:
1919
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: The genito-urinary system in monotremes and marsupials / by William Colin MacKenzie ; assisted by William J. Owen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    between vaginae and oviduct on each side is a narrow duct about 3 cm. long and .25 cm. across. This we regard rather as vaginal than cervix uteri. Each can be separated from its fellow right down to the vaginae proper, though they are closely adherent in the lower third, and on the interior fine longitudinal striae are marked, especially at the uterine junction. Vaginal Canals.—The vaginae proper are, compared with other Marsupials, extremely small and deeply placed in the pelvis dorsal to the neck of the bladder. Careful dissection is necessary for their examination, and only after removal of the genitalia from the body. A median vagina and two lateral vagina can be recognized, and the apparent length of each is about .5 cm. The lateral vaginae are, however, traced in the lateral wall of the urogenital canal for about .5 cm., and each finally opens into the latter on the side of a longitudinal ridge lateral and dorsal to the urinary opening, frequently forming a distinct projection. In spite of its small size, the median vagina wou]d appear to be subject to variation. It may be only .25 cm. long, and be divided into two equal portions by a median septum. The septum may separate two unequal portions—a small right .25 cm. long and a longer left portion .5 cm. The length may be .5 cm., and be divided by the median septum into two portions, or the septum may be absent. Each median vagina communicates with the lateral vagina and “uterine” canal of the same side, but we have never found any communication with the urogenital canal. Urogenital Canal.—This is an elongate tube into which proximally the bladder and the vaginal canals open. As in the case of Koala, the bladder, though small, is corrugated externally, and markedly rugous within. The canal is about 8-10 cm. long, and the width varies from .25 cm. to
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