REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS IN THE MALE. 287 



upper portion of the rete testis through the tunica 

 albuginea to the epididymis. There are about fif- 

 teen of them. They are lined by simple columnar 

 ciliated epithelium, and represent tubules that em- 

 bryologically belong to the mesonephros. Outside 

 of the epithelium is a thin investment of areolar 

 tissue in which smooth muscle cells interlace. 



The epididymis is a very much coiled canal, about 

 twenty feet long, formed by the confluence of the 

 vasa efferentia. 

 At the upper 

 and posterior 

 border of the 

 testis the vasa 

 efferentia and 

 epididymis 

 form a globular 

 mass of tubules 

 called the glo- 

 bus major. At 

 the lower and 

 posterior bor- 

 der there is a smaller mass of coiled tubules formed 

 by the epididymis, and called the globus minor. 

 The epididymis is lined by simple epithelium which 

 is ciliated in most places, but interposed are patches 

 of nonciliated cells. The latter form small areas that 

 resemble glands. External to this epithelium there 

 is a thin layer of smooth muscle fibers which blends 

 with vascular areolar tissue. 



The vas deferens begins at the lower margin of the 

 globus minor and is a direct continuation of the 



Fig. 212. Cross 



section of epididymis. 



