cs. 195, 196.] 



TI1E TESTICLES. 



427 



OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS. 



A. Male Sexual Organs. 



§ 195. The male sexual organs consist, 1, of the testicles, two 

 glands for the secretion of the semen, which, with their special 

 envelopes, the tunica' vaginales, are contained in the scrotum; 

 2, of the excretory ducts of those glands, the vasa deferentia and 

 ejaculatory ducts, together with their appendages, the vesicula 

 In lies; 3, of the organs of copulation, the penis and its 

 muscles ; 4, lastly, of special accessory glands, the prostate and 

 C'owper's glands. 



§ 196. The testicles, testes, are two true glands, with a special 

 covering, the tunica albuginea or fibrosa, in which are contained 

 the secreting elements in the form of tortuous tubes, the tubuli 

 seminiferi. The envelope (fig. 177, e) is a white membrane, dense 

 and thick, whose structure is precisely similar to that of other 

 fibrous membranes, especially resembling the dura mater. It 

 forms a closed capsule, which everywhere invests the parenchyma 

 of the testicle. Its outer surface is smooth and shining from a 

 special covering {tunica adnata), except 

 where the epididymis is applied to the 

 testicle; whilst the inner surface is con- 

 nected by a thin layer of loose connective 

 tissue with the substance of the testicle, 

 and penetrates also into the interior of 

 tlit* gland by means of a considerable 

 number of processes. Among these, the 

 most important is the corpus Highmori 

 s. mediastinum testis, which passes from 

 the posterior border of the testicle for 

 about 3 to 4 lines into the interior ; it is a 

 perpendicular lamella of dense connective 

 tissue, §'" to 1'" in length, and of con- 

 siderable thickness at its origin (fig. 177, 

 /<). Besides this, there are numerous 

 smooth processes, septula testis (fig. 177, 0), 

 consisting of loose connective tissue, which 

 arise from the entire inner surface of 

 the tunica albuginea. They divide the 

 gland into parts, and also serve to support the vessels; they 

 from all sides toward « on, and attach 



Transverse section through 

 the right human testicle and its 

 coats, a. vaginalis communis ; 6. 

 vaginalis propria, outer lamella ; 

 c. cavity of the propria, which 

 is absent during life; </. inner 

 lamella of the propria (adnata) 

 blended with e, the albuginea: 

 /. passage of the propria upon 

 the epididymis g ; h. corpus High- 

 vnum; Hi. branches of the 

 spermatic artery ; k. internal 

 spermatic vein ; I. vos deferens; 

 - ; n. lobuli 

 testis; <-,. septula. 



