Lecture Notes

On each side of the uterus are two tubes known as fallopian tubes, or uterine tubes. The tubes are about four inches in length. They extend towards the ovaries but are not attached to them. Instead, finger-like fimbriae drape over the ovary but do not actually touch it. Tiny hair-like cilia on the fimbriae and the ampulla become active during ovulation. Their waving motions and contractions of the walls of the tube transport the oocyte released from the ovary into the fallopian tube.