Part 13

FIG. 26.—Extremely tough Annular Hymen, with an obliquely disposed Septum. ]

FIG. 27.—Septate Hymen with Apertures of unequal size. ]

4. The lobate, lobulated, or labiate hymen, which consists of several (two to four) lobes on either side, each overlapping the next like the tiles in a roof, whilst the aperture between the two sides has the form of an antero-posterior slit (FIG. 37); in some cases the lobes of a lobulated hymen are so disposed that the membrane has the appearance of a fold of mucous membrane with a central furrow.

FIG. 28.—Septate Hymen with Apertures of unequal size. ]

FIG. 29.—Hymen with rudimentary Septum. ]

FIG. 30.—Hymen with posterior rudimentary Septum. ]

FIG. 31.—Labiate Hymen with posterior rudimentary Septum. ]

It is obvious that an imperforate or cribriform hymen, by the hindrance it offers to the passage of the menstrual discharge, is liable at the time of the menarche, and as soon as menstruation begins, to give rise to serious disorder and to pathological states.

FIG. 32.—Hymen with anterior rudimentary Septum. ]

FIG. 33.—Hymen with anterior rudimentary Septum projecting in a opiniform Manner. ]

FIG. 34.—Hymen with anterior and posterior rudimentary Septa. ]

FIG. 35.—Hymen with filiform process projecting from the anterior margin. ]

FIG. 36.—Hymen in which there are two symmetrically disposed thinned areas. The left of these is perforated. ]

The illustrations we append, showing the various forms of the hymen, are taken from von Hoffmann’s Handbook of Medical Jurisprudence. (FIGS. 18–45.)

FIG. 37.—Very unusual form of Hymen. ]

FIG. 38.—Semilunar Hymen with cicatrized Lacerations in its Border. ]

FIG. 39.—Deflorated Semilunar Hymen with laterally disposed Symmetrical Lacerations. ]

FIG. 40.—Deflorated Annular Hymen with several cicatrized Lacerations. ]

FIG. 41.—A. Septate Hymen in which Defloration has been effected through one of the Apertures. U. Urethra. Cl. Clitoris. H. Cicatrized margin. C. Septum. B. Lateral View of Septum. ]

In some cases the hymen is exceedingly thin and delicate, so that it is liable to be torn if handled at all roughly; in other cases, on the contrary, it may be very firm, thick, and fleshy, interlaced with strands of connective tissue and muscle, so that it forms a veritable cuirass for the protection of physical virginity.

FIG. 42.—Deflorated Septate Hymen. ]

FIG. 43.—Hymen with larger anterior and smaller posterior Apertures. ]

FIG. 44.—Carunculæ Myrtiformes in a Primipara. ]

FIG. 45.—Vaginal Inlet of a Multipara, without Carunculæ Myrtiformes. Slight Prolapse of anterior and posterior Vaginal Walls. ]

As signs of virginity in the female, a knowledge of which is required, not only for the purposes of medical jurisprudence, but for various other reasons, we may enumerate the following anatomical characteristics of the genital organs. The labia majora are elastic in consistence and are in close apposition with one another; the labia minora or nymphæ are covered by the labia majora and are but little pigmented; the vestibule and the vaginal orifice are narrow, and the vagina itself is narrow, tense, and markedly rugose; the hymen is normal and uninjured (this, of course, is the most trustworthy of all the signs of virginity); the breasts have the virgin conformation. In opposition to the plea that the hymen can be destroyed by other causes than defloration, as by a fall, especially a fall which brings the external genitals in contact with some hard body, or by diphtheritic, variolous, or syphilitic ulceration, Maschka maintains that such occurrences are among the greatest rarities.

On the other hand it is sufficiently well known that the presence of an uninjured hymen affords no certain assurance of actual virginity. Cases enough are recorded, both in older and more recent medical literature, in which even pregnancy occurred in women in whom the hymen had remained intact, the explanation being that during copulation penetration of the penis had failed to occur, the semen being ejaculated on the vulva. Scanzoni and Zweifel have recorded cases in which the intact hymen offered a hindrance to parturition. The first-named author explains these occurrences by the assumption that the hymen was so stout that the penis was unable to rupture it. Veit remarks that both male and female youth, in these days of the continued advance of knowledge, are well acquainted with coitus sine immissione penis, and that very frequently a woman who is informed that she is pregnant makes answer that this is impossible, her paramour having assured her that pregnancy could not occur. On the other hand, cases are met with in which the aperture in the hymen is a very large one, so large that the penis can penetrate to the vagina without lacerating the membrane.

Broudardel reports a case of rape in which the lacerated hymen healed so completely that an expert maintained the integrity of the membrane, until another pointed out the fine scar.

In general, that we may be assured of the existence of virginity, we must find the hymen uninjured; and, on the other hand, we must regard the laceration of the membrane, unless known to be the result of gynecological examination or other manipulation, as a proof of defloration.