ABSTRACT
While the gross morphology of the female mammalian reproductive tract varies considerably between species, most noticeably between primates, of which the human represents an example, and the nonhuman primates, of which rodents represent examples, even within the latter group there are minor differences. This particularly relates to the structure of the rostral ends of the paramesonephric (Müllerian) ducts, in the arrangement of the ovarian bursae1 and in the caudal end of the same system where the degree of fusion, or nonfusion, varies somewhat. Ferm2 also briefly describes these minor differences. However, the principal difference between the primate and the nonhuman primate uterus is that the body of the uterus in the primate is represented by a single midline structure. This is formed by the midline fusion of the intermediate portions of the two paramesonephric ducts. During the early stages in the development of the latter, a substantial septum is present, showing the site where the two ducts are in the process of fusion. Occasionally, if fusion is incomplete, this may result in the development of a so-called septate or subseptate uterus. The presence of the latter may also be associated with a distinct and characteristic antero-posteriorly directed ridge that is located on the peritoneal surface in the region of the uterine fundus. In the human, this condition may occasionally be associated with the premature onset of labor or a transverse lie or breech presentation.3 In the subprimates, two uterine horns are present, and these remain as two distinct structures caudally as far as the cervical region. At this level, it has been noted that slight variations exist even between the various rodent species.4
