SEMINAL VESICLES 



343 



lining of the sacs is honeycombed with folds as shown in Figs. 344 and 345. 

 The epithelium is generally simple or two-layered, the height of the cells 

 varying with the distention of the vesicles by secretion. Granules occur 

 in the cells, which produce a clear gelatinous secretion in sago-like masses. 

 Spermatozoa are generally found in the human vesicles, but except during 

 sexual excitement they are absent from the vesicles of rodents; this and 

 other facts indicate that the function of the organ is primarily glandular. 

 The lumens of the various sexual glands are generally of very large caliber, 

 associated with the storing of secretions. Pigment granules in varying 



-ep. 



FIG. 344. SEMINAL VESICLE AND DUCTUS DEF- 

 ERENS. (This is natural size.) (After Eberth.) 



ad., Adventitia; am., ampulla; d., diverticulum; 

 d. d., ductus deferens; d. e., ductus ejacula- 

 torius; m., muscularis; s. v., seminal vesicle; 

 t. p., tunica propria. 



FIG. 345. VERTICAL SECTION OF THE WALL OF A 



SEMINAL VESICLE. (After KSlliker.) 

 ep.,. Simple epithelium; g., gland-like depres- 

 sion; m., muscularis; t. p., tunica propria. 



quantity occur in the epithelial cells and in the underlying connective 

 tissue. They may impart a brownish color to the secretion. 



The ductus ejaculatorii, along their dorso-median sides, are beset with a 

 series of appendages, which do not project externally but are wholly en- 

 closed in the connective tissue wall of the duct. Some of these append- 

 ages show the same structure as the seminal vesicles and therefore might 

 be described as accessory seminal vesicles; others are simply convolu- 

 tions of alveolo-tubular glands which may be compared with prostate 

 glands. The mucous membrane of the ductus ejaculatorii is like that of 

 the seminal vesicles, except that its folds are not so complicated. Muscle 



