THE MALE GEXITAL ORGANS 



249 



am 



The organ as a whole is nearly 2.5 cm. long but is largely 

 covered and compressed dorsally by the vesicular and 

 prostate glands (Fig. 100). Its thin ventral wall adheres 

 closely to the expanded terminal portions of the deferent 

 ducts. 



(c) The somewhat dilated final portions (ampullae) of the 

 deferent ducts lie between the seminal vesicle and the 

 dorsal wall of the bladder. They terminate in the ventral 

 wall of the seminal vesicle, where their point of entrance is 

 marked by a pair of internal papillae. 



(d) The vesicular gland and the prostate gland lie in the dorsal 

 wall of the more posterior part of the seminal vesicle, the 

 former anterior to the latter, each enveloped in a connective 

 tissue capsule. Macroscopically they are very similar and 

 are associated in a single mass but histologically they are 

 different and are separated by a thin connective tissue 

 septum. In the fresh con- 

 dition, the larger vesicular 

 gland tends to be dull grey 

 while the prostate is cream- 

 coloured. 



The vesicular gland has 

 a pair of ventral ducts, one of 

 them shown in Fig. 100 which 

 enter the urethra at either 

 side of the seminal coUiculus 

 (vide infra) and the prostate 

 has four to six minute ducts 

 at either side opening just 

 behind them. 



The paraprostatic glands 

 are minute finger-like pro- 

 jections of the urethral lining 

 imbedded in the outer part 

 of its wall at either side 

 of the base of the seminal 

 vesicle. Their number is variable 



Fig. 100. Diagram of sagittal sec- 

 tion of urethra with accessory sex 

 glands and their ducts, from a seven- 

 months old rabbit. (After Bern and 

 Krichesky.) am, ampulla of ductus 

 deferens; bu, bulbourethral gland; 

 pr, prostate; sc, seminal coUicuIus; 

 sp, septum between vesicular and 

 prostate glands; sv, seminal vesicle; 

 ur, urethra; vg, vesicular gland. 



