Oviducts (uterine tubes or Fallopian tubes) -- bilateral, first part of genital tract; site of fertilization and transport of early embryo to uterus.

Examine sections of the oviduct (slides 19 and 60) and identify the mesentery, highly vascularized serosa, and the well-developed muscularis, and the very highly folded mucosa (Fig. 22-13).

• Based on the diagram in Fig. 22-12, what region of the oviduct is shown in your specimen?

Examine the simple columnar epithelium at higher power and note the presence of two cell types:

• Ciliated cells and
• Slightly taller non-ciliated secretory cells (Fig. 22-13).

What are the functions of the cells lining this region of the oviduct?

Examine the section of oviduct on slide 59 and note the differences from that on slide 60.

What region of the oviduct does this section represent?

In which region of the oviduct does fertilization normally occur and how does the structure of the tube at this level facilitate this process?

Now for the uterus.