TESTIS. EPIDIDYMIS. 



603 



Fig. 179.* 



land, somewhat 



compressed upon the sides and behind, and suspended in the cavity of 

 the scrotum by the spermatic cord. 



Its position in the scrotum is oblique ; so that the upper extremity 

 is directed upwards and forwards, and a little outwards; the lower, 

 downwards and backwards, and a little inwards ; the convex surface 

 looks forwards and downwards, and the flattened surface to which the 

 cord is attached, backwards and upwards. Lying against its outer and 

 posterior border is a flattened body which follows the course of the 

 testicle, and extends from its upper to its lower extremity ; this body 

 is named, from its relation to the testis, epididymis (l-ri upon, ffiuftos 

 the testicle) ; it is divided into a central part or body, an upper extre- 

 mity or globus major, and a lower extremity, globus minor (cauda) 

 epididymis. The globus major is situated upon the upper end of the 

 testicle, to which it is closely adherent ; the globus minor is placed at 

 its lower end, is attached to the 

 testis by areolar tissue, and curves 

 upwards, to become continuous with 

 the vas deferens. The testis is in- 

 vested by three tunics, tunica vagi- 

 nalis, tunica albuginea, and tunica 

 vasculosa ; and is connected to the 

 inner surface of the dartos by a 

 large quantity of extremely loose 

 areolar tissue, in which fat is never 

 deposited, but which is very sus- 

 ceptible of serous infiltration. 



The Tunica vaginalis is a pouch 

 ot serous membrane derived from 

 the peritoneum in the descent of the 

 testis, and afterwards obliterated 

 from the abdomen to within a short 

 distance of the gland. Like other 

 serous coverings, it is a shut sac, 

 investing the organ, and thence 

 reflected so as to form a bag around its circumference ; hence it is 

 divided into the tunica vaginalis propria, and tunica vaginalis reflexa. 

 The tunica vaginalis propria covers the surface of the tunica albuginea, 



* A transverse section of the testicle. 1 . The cavity of the tunica vaginalis ; 

 the most external layer is the tunica vaginalis reflexa ; and that in contact with 

 the organ, the tunica vaginalis propria. 2. The tunica albuginea. 3. The 

 mediastinum testis, giving off numerous fibrous cords in a radiated direction to 

 the internal surface of the tunica albuginea. The cut extremities of the vessels 

 below the number belong to the rete testis ; and those above, to the arteries and 

 veins of the organ. 4. The tunica vasculosa, or pia mater testis. 5. One of 

 the lobides, consisting of the convolutions of the tubuli seminiferi, and termi- 

 nating by a single duct the vas rectum. Corresponding lobules are seen be- 

 tween the other fibrous cords of the mediastinum. 6. Section of the epidi- 

 dymis. 



