Volume 2

A system of gynecology / by American authors ; edited by Matthew D. Mann.

Date:
1887-1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A system of gynecology / by American authors ; edited by Matthew D. Mann. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    27/1200 page 25
    Atresia (a, privative, and zpyaiz, a perforation) of the vagina signi- fies occlusion of that canal; it varies from a thin fibrous diaphragm to complete obliteration of the vagina; it may occur at any point of the vagina, but is most commonly found in its lower third. Most system- atic authors distinguish its varieties as atresia hymenalis, atresia vagi- nalis, atresia cervicis. The normal anatomy of the hymen has already been fully described (Vol. I. pp. 117, 118). I. Atresia of the Hymen is caused by inflammatory adhesion of the folds of this membrane after their formation during foetal life, and may be said to be always congenital. In common with other forms of congenital atresia, it excites no symptom or suspicion of its existence until puberty, when the non-appearance of the menses leads to its detection ; then an examination shows the hymen to be a contin- uous membrane, impervious, thick, and almost cartilaginous1 in con- sistency. As menstrual blood gradually accumulates in the pelvis a tense and bulging appearance of the hymen is presented. By this time Fig. 3. Hymenal Atresia (Breisky). the vagina itself is full, and has formed a distended sac which nearly fills the pelvis. The uterus as yet may, however, be unaffected, as it only begins to fill and distend after the vagina has reached its utmost limit. This capacity varies in every case, and rupture of the thinnest part of the vaginal wall or of the cervix may occur in the process. 1 Vide Hart and Barbour: Man. of Gyn., 3d ed., p. 4S4, for the best account of this subject.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3