HISTOLOGY 137 



below which a few circularly arranged smooth muscle fibers complete the 

 wall. 



The epididymis is covered throughout its entire length by a continuous 

 sheath of fibrous connective tissue, which in the caput projects in and divides 

 the convoluted tubules into seven to eight segments or lobules. As stated 

 previously the first one of these lobules contains efferent ducts. In the 

 second lobule the lumen of the ductus epididymidis is lined by very tall 

 columnar epithelial cells. In most cells the oval nucleus is located in the 

 lower third of the cell, while in some the nucleus is in a higher position. 

 The cells possess non-motile stereocilia. Beginning at the third segment the 

 epithelium lining the duct becomes considerably lower; the nuclei are at an 

 even height and the duct is narrower. Approaching the cauda the duct 

 becomes wider. On the inner surface of the basement membrane small 

 round basal cells are present. The cross section of any part of the duct 

 shows a very regular circular outline. A few circularly arranged smooth 

 muscle fibers complete the wall. 



As the ductus epididymidis leaves the cauda it becomes the ductus 

 deferens. This duct is lined by tall columnar epithelium which at some 

 places seems to be pseudostratified. The lamina propria is formed by fibrous 

 connective tissue and the mucosa forms several prominent longitudinal 

 folds. An inner circular and an outer longitudinal smooth muscle coat 

 form a rather thick wall. Loose connective tissue, the adventitia, covers 

 the duct (Fig. 66). Before entering the urethra the duct opens into the 

 ampulla through a papuliferous projection. The epithelium changes sud- 

 denly, and the ampulla and its narrow neck, which connects it with the 

 urethra, are lined by low columnar cells which have large, oval, deeply 

 staining nuclei and small amounts of cytoplasm. The deHcate lamina 

 propria is surrounded by smooth muscle fibers. The mucous membrane 

 forms many deep folds (Fig. 67). 



The accessory glands. — Before giving the histological details of the 

 accessory glands, a few general remarks are needed. The seminal vesicles 

 are correctly referred to in the more recent literature as vesicular glands, 

 because they do not contain or store spermatozoa but produce a secretion. 

 The naming of the lobes of the prostate may cause confusion. There are 

 three pairs of prostate glands, one pair of which is attached to the lesser 

 curvatures of the vesicular glands. Because the secretion of this gland, 

 according to Walker (95), produces coagulation when mixed with the 

 secretion of the vesicular gland, it is often referred to as the coagulating 

 gland, and this name will be adopted in this text. Rauther, (81) in a draw- 



