NORMAL HISTOLOGY. 135 



CHAPTEE XX 

 THE GENITAL ORGANS. 



The reproductive organs are derived from the epiderm and meso- 

 derm. As among many plants, they exhibit sexual characteristics. 

 The function of the male organs is the production of semen, which 

 contains the spermatozoa, or male elements. The female organs 

 produce the ova, female elements, as well as contribute to the de- 

 velopment of the fertilized ova and the resulting embryos. 



I. MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. 



The male reproductive organs comprise the testis, prostate gland, 

 Cowper's glands, and penis. 



THE TESTIS. 



The testis is a compound tubular gland whose function is to pro- 

 duce the spermatazoa. It is enveloped in a fibrous capsule and is 

 divided into lobules. 



OUTLINE OF THE TESTIS. 



Tunica vaginalis. 



Tunics { Tunica albuginea. 



Tunica vasculosa. 



Mediastinum, or corpus Hig-hmori. 



Septa. C Parietal cells. 



(Convoluted tubul^ ! Mother cells. 



Tubili recti. ] Spermatoblasts. 



Rete testis. [ Spermatozoa. 



f Vasa efferentia. 

 j Coni vasculosi. 

 Vessels { Tube of epididymus. 



Vas deferens. 



Vas aberrans. 



The testis is suspended in a sac, the scrotum, and is immediately 

 invested with three coats the tunica vaginalis, or serous coat, de- 

 rived from the peritoneum; the tunica albuginea, or dense fibrous 

 coat, which on the posterior border of the testis forms by an inver- 



