324 GENERATION. 



the anatomical elements derived from the testicles and the 

 genital passages, it presents an organic principle (spermatine) 

 which has nearly the same chemical characters as ordinary 

 mucosine. It also contains a considerable quantity of phos- 

 phates, particularly the phosphate of magnesia. During des- 

 iccation, the characteristic* crystals of this salt usually make 

 their appearance ; and, in the decomposed fluid, we frequent- 

 ly find crystals of the triple phosphates. 



The composite character of the seminal fluid will be better 

 understood if we examine briefly the properties of the dif- 

 ferent mucous secretions which enter into its composition. 



In the dilated portion of the vasa deferentia, the mucous 

 glands secrete a fluid which is the first added to the sperma- 

 tozoids as they come from the testicles. This fluid is brown- 

 ish or grayish, and contains epithelium, and small, rounded 

 granulations, which are dark and strongly refractive. The 

 liquid itself is very slightly viscid. 



In the vesiculse seminales, there is a more abundant secre- 

 tion of a grayish fluid, with epithelium, little colorless con- 

 cretions of nitrogenized matter, called by Robin, sympexions, 1 

 and a few leucocytes. 



The glandular structures of the prostate produce a creamy 

 secretion, containing numerous fine granulations. It is chiefly 

 to the admixture of this fluid that the semen owes its whitish 

 appearance. Finally, as the semen is ejaculated, it receives 

 the exceedingly viscid secretion of the glands of Cowper, a 

 certain amount of stringy mucus from the follicles of the 

 urethra, with, perhaps, a little of the urethral epithelium. 

 . Anatomically considered, the seminal fluid contains no 

 important elements except the spermatozoids, the various se- 

 cretions we have mentioned serving simply as a vehicle for 

 the introduction of these bodies into the generative passages 

 of the female. We shall therefore consider only the struct- 

 ure of the spermatozoids, their movements, and the process 

 of their development. 



1 LITTRE ET ROBIN, Dictionnaire de medecine, Paris, 1873, Article, tfympexion. 



