MALE GENITAL ORGANS 



329 



All the tubules thus far considered are produced by the genital 

 ridge. Their inner ends, which form the rete, acquire openings into 

 the capsules of the degenerating Wolffian glomeruli, or sometimes directly 

 into a Wolffian tubule. From ten to fifteen Wolffian tubules thus become 

 connected with the rete testis, and serve to convey the genital products 

 to the Wolffian duct; these tubules are known as the ductuli efferentes. 

 In the adult each of them is a greatly convoluted tube which if straightened 

 measures 8 inches (20 cm.). When coiled, it forms a conical mass or 

 lobule of the epididymis, with its apex toward the rete, and its base toward 



urethra 



appendix epididymidis 

 appendix testis 



convoluted tubule 



straight ttibitlc 



utriciilus prostaticus 

 biilbourethral gland 



seminal vesicle 

 I prostatic gland. 



dnctus defereits 



para didytnis 

 due tu his efferent 



rctc testis 



ductnliis aberraus 

 dnctus epididymidis 



FIG. 328. DIAGRAM OF THE MALE SEXUAL ORGANS. (Modified from Eberth, after Waldeyer.) 

 (The course of the Mullerian duct is indicated by dashes.) 



the Wolffian duct which it enters (Fig. 328). The Wolffian duct, which 

 passes along the dorsal surface of the testis, is also greatly convoluted so 

 that it measures about 20 feet when straight (6-7 meters). Together with 

 the efferent ducts this coiled mass constitutes the epididymis (Gr. eVt, 

 upon; S6'Su/w>?> testis). Along the testis the Wolffian duct is called the 

 ductus epididymidis, and from the testis toward the urogenital sinus it 

 is named the ductus deferens. Near its termination a saccular outgrowth, 

 like a distended gland, develops from each Wolffian duct. It is called 

 the seminal vesicle, and that portion of the Wolffian duct between the 

 duct of the vesicle and the urethra is named the ejaculatory duct. Thus 



