Falopian

The Fallopian tubes are also known as oviducts and uterine tubes. They are two very fine tubes leading from the ovaries of female mammals into the uterus. They are named after their discoverer, Gabriele Falloppio. There are two Fallopian tubes, attached to either side of the cranial end of the uterus. They are each terminating at or near one ovary forming a structure called the fimbria. When an ovum is developing in an ovary, it is encapsulated in a sac known as an ovarian follicle. On maturity of the ovum, the follicle and the ovary's wall rupture. This allows the ovum to escape and enter the Fallopian tube and there it travels toward the uterus. It is pushed along by movements of cilia on the inner lining of the tubes and this trip takes hours or days. If the ovum is fertilized while in the Fallopian tube, then it normally implants in the endometrium when it reaches the uterus. This signals the beginning of pregnancy. However, in some cases the embryo implants into the Fallopian tube instead of the uterus. This is called an ectopic pregnancy.