252 ELEMENTS OF HISTOLOGY. [ch 



331. The seminal tubules and the tubes of the 

 epididymis are entwined by a rich network of 

 capillary blood-vessels. Between the tubes of the 

 testis and epididymis are lymph spaces, forming an 

 intercommunicating system, and emptying themselves 

 into the superficial networks of lymphatics, i.e., those 

 of the albuginea ; the arrangement of these networks 

 is somewhat different in the testis and epididymis. 



332. (3) Vas deferens and vesiculae semi- 

 iiales. The tubes of the globus minor open into the 

 vas deferens. This is of course much larger than 

 the former, and is lined with stratified columnar 



^epithelium. Underneath this is a dense connective 

 tissue mucosa, containing a rich network of capillary 

 blood-vessels. Beneath this mucosa is a thin sub- 

 mucous tissue, which in the Ampulla is better de- 

 veloped than in other parts, and therefore allows the 

 mucous membrane to become folded. Outside the sub- 

 mucous tissue is the muscular coat, which consists of 

 non-striped muscular tissue, arranged as an inner 

 circular and an outer longitudinal stratum. At the 

 commencement of the vas deferens there is in addition 

 an inner longitudinal layer. There is finally a fibrous 

 tissue adventitia. This contains longitudinal bundles 

 of non-striped muscular tissue, known as the creniaster 

 internus (Henle). A rich plexus of veins plexus 

 pampiniformis and a rich plexus of lymphatic trunks, 

 are situated in the connective tissue of the spermatic 

 cord. The plexus spermaticus consists of larger and 

 smaller nerve- trunks, with which are connected small 

 groups of ganglion cells and also large gaiiglionic 

 swellings. 



333. In the vesiculce semitmles we meet with 

 exactly the same layers as constitute the wall of the 

 vas deferens, but they are thinner. This refers espe- 

 cially to the mucosa and the muscular coat. The 

 former is placed in numerous folds. The latter con- 



