IN _MAIDS_ however its _Cavity_ is much _less_, and can scarcely contain the Bigness of a BEAN: whereas in _Women with Child_, the _Dimensions_ and _Figure_, as well as the _Cavity_ itself differs, according to the different _Times_ of _GESTATION_.
AS I have said before, its _Anterior Part_ coheres _above_ with the _BLADDER_, _below_ with the _RECTUM_; the _Hinder Part_ being free: But the _lateral Parts_ are tied by _Four Ligaments_ of different Sorts; whereof _Two_ are placed _Above_, and _Two Below_; the _Superiors_ are called LIGAMENTA LATA, or broad; the _Inferiors_ ROTUNDA, or round _Ligaments_.
THE _two broad Ligaments_ are _Membranous_, and call’d ALÆ VESPERTILIONUM; which spring from the PERITONÆUM, and join the WOMB on each Side to the _OSSA ILIA_: So that the _OVARIA_ are fasten’d to _one End_ of them, and the TUBÆ _Fallopianæ_ lie along the _Other_.
THE _two round Ligaments_ arise from the _Fore_ and _lateral Part_ of the Bottom of the WOMB, and pass thro’ the Rings of the _Muscles_ of the ABDOMEN, terminating in _Fat_ near the GROINS. _They_ are of a hard _Substance_, pretty _Big_ at the Bottom of the WOMB; but _smaller_ and _flatter_, as they approach the _OS PUBIS_. Now Those _Four Ligaments_ serve to keep the WOMB streight, steady, and firm in its proper Place _before BIRTH_, and to restore it to its natural _Position_, by the Help of CONTRACTION, _After_.
THE _Orifice_ of the WOMB opening into the _VAGINA_, is of the same _Figure_ with the _Nut_ of the _PENIS_: This in _VIRGINS_ is very _small_, scarcely admitting a _Specillum_ or _Probe_; in OTHERS it is much _larger_; but in _Women with Child_, several small _Ducts_ or Vesicles open among the RUGÆ, which discharge a _Glutinous Liquor_ to close and seal up this _Orifice_, till the Time of _BIRTH_.
THE _Substance_ of the WOMB is _Solid_ and _Muscular_, composed of a various PLEXUS, or Web of fleshy _Fibres_, woven like a NET, with the Interposition of innumerable _Vessels_, of _ARTERIES_, _VEINS_, _NERVES_, &c. _Without_, it is surrounded with a _Thin_ and _Smooth Membrane_ from the PERITONÆUM; and _within_ its _Cavity_, furnished with a _Thick_, _Porous_, and _Nervous one_, call’d the proper _Membrane_ of the WOMB.