The science and art of midwifery / by William Thompson Lusk.

  • William Thompson Lusk
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The science and art of midwifery / by William Thompson Lusk. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    29/844 (page 3)
    turgescence of the labia in pruritu, and under sexual excitement, is mainly due. The existence of contractile elements has never been demonstrated. The two extremities of the vulva have been designated, respec- tively, the anterior and posterior commissures of the labia ; but these terms, so far as they convey the idea of connecting bands between the labia, are incorrect, for Luschka* has shown that the labia are direct- ly continuous with the mons Ve- neris in front and the perinaeum be- hind. The clitoris is a small, elongated body, situated beneath the so-called anterior commissure. It resembles the penis in form and structure, but differs in possessing neither corpus spongiosum nor urethra. The clit- oris is divided into the crura, the corpus, and the glans. The crura are long, spindle-shaped processes, : attached to the borders of the as- cending rami of the ischia and the descending xami of the pubis. The corpus is formed by the junction of the crura in the median line. Just beneath the pubic arch. Even in a state of extreme erection, it does not normally exceed an inch in length. The glans is the rounded, imperforate extremity. During erec- tion it attains the dimensions of a small pea. The cuticular covering of the glans is of a pale-red color, and is covered with papilla, part of which contain vessels, and part, nerve-endings similar to those found in the nipple, and termed by Krause terminal bulbs {End-Kolben). The nerves of the clitoris are more fully developed than the corre- sponding nerves in the penis. The clitoris is regarded as the seat of the voluptuous sensations experienced by the female during copula- tion. The labia minora are two narrow, reddish, moist folds of mucous membrane, situated between the labia majora, with which they are continuous by their outer surface. The inner surface is continuous with the mucous membrane of the vestibulum. They are, sometimes, termed hkewise the nyynphce. Nymplm vocantur vel quod sint casti- tails prmides, vel quod sponsum primo intermittant, vel quod aquis * Luschka, Die Anatomic des menschlichen Beckens, p. 407. Fig. 2.—Lateral view of the erectile struct- ures of the exteinal orsjans of the fe- male (from Kobelt), two thirds. The blood-vessels have been injected, and the skin and mucous membrane have been removed, a, bulbus vestibuli; c, plexus of veins, named the pars in- termedia J e, glans clitoridis ; /, cor- pus clitoridis ; A, dorsal vein ; l, right crus clitoridis ; m, vestibulum ; right gland of Bartholin or Duverney.