Female duct and oviducal gland. (Fig. 10)

The female duct forms the lumen of the extensive, broadly convoluted oviducal gland, and is irregular and capacious. It communicates directly with the sperm duct near its anterior end. The oviducal gland is mainly composed of long, relatively narrow cells, with a central irregular nucleus and very pale cytoplasm; a few interspersed smooth muscle cells can also be seen. Connective tissue sheaths the gland, and the lumen is lined with a thin layer of simple squamous epithelium. No cilia are present. Near the bifurcatio spermoviducti the gland cells are somewhat smaller, the epithelial lining of the lumen considerably thicker, and more connective tissue is present. The mucus-secreting cells which make up the oviducal gland do not cease at the bifurcation, but continue for a short distance into the uterus as a subepithelial layer.

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