ai Pr THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. 1103 
open into the urethral canal. One group of these mucous glands possesses a minute 
common duct (ductus paraurethralis), which opens into the urogenital cleft by the side of 
the urethral orifice. The vascular layer which lies between the muscular coat and the 
Cavity of uterus 
Cavity of 
bladder 
Labium anterius 
(cervix WD 
Symphysis pubis — 
Labium posterits 
(cervix uteri) 
~Recto-vaginal 
reflexion of 
peritoneum 
Urethra Vaginal canal 
Anal canal 
Labium minus - Sphincter ani 
Fic. 750.—MESIAL SECTION OF THE FEMALE PELVIS. 
The cavity of the uterus is shown somewhat diagrammatically. From a specimen in the 
Anatomical Department, Trinity College, Dublin. 
mucous membrane contains elastic fibres, and in appearance resembles erectile tissue. 
Striped muscle fibres are also found in connexion with the female urethra, and are 
especially plentiful in the lower part of the anterior wall of the passage. 
THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. 
We have here to describe (1) the testes or essential reproductive glands of the 
male, together with their (2) coverings and (5) ducts, (4) the prostate, (5) Cowper's 
glands, (6) the external genital organs, and (7) the male urethra. 
The reproductive glands of the male, or testes, are a pair of nearly symmetrical 
oval-shaped bodies situated in the scrotum. The duct of each gland, at first 
much twisted and intertwined, forms a structure known as the epididymis, which 
is applied against the posterior and outer part of the testis. From the epi- 
didymis the excretory duct or vas deferens passes upwards towards the lower part 
of the anterior abdominal wall, which it pierces very obliquely, to enter the - 
abdominal cavity. Here each vas deferens is covered by peritoneum, and, crossing 
the pelvic brim, enters the pelvis. The vas now runs on the side wall of the 
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