952 



OP GENERATION. 



the name of Tunica Vasculosa) consisting of minute ramifications of the 

 spermatic vessels united by areolar tissue. Each lobule is composed of a mass 

 of convoluted tubuli seminiferi, throughout which bloodvessels are minutely 

 distributed. The lobules differ greatly in size, some containing one, and others 



Fig. 237. 



Fig. 238. 



The Testicle injected with mercury : 1, tunica 

 albuginea ; 2, seminiferous tubes ; 3, the rete vas- 

 culosum testis ; 4, a globule of mercury which has 

 ruptured the tubes ; 5, the vasa efferentia which 

 form the coni vasculosi ; 6, coni vasculosi form- 

 ing the head of the epididymis ; 7, epididymis ; 8, 

 globus minor of the epididymis ; ! 



A view of the minute structure of the Testis : 1, 1, 

 tunica albuginea ; 2 2, corpus Highmorianum ; 3, 3, tu- 

 buli seminiferi convoluted into lobules ; 4, vasa recta ; 5, 

 rete testis ; 6, vasa efferentia ; 7, coni vasculosi consti- 

 tuting the globus major of the epididymis; 8, body of 

 the epididymis ; 9, its globus minor ; 10, vas deferens ; 

 11, vasculum aberrans, or blind duct. 



many of the tubuli ; the total number of the lobules is estimated at about 450 

 in each testis, and that of the tubuli at 840. The convolutions of the tubuli 

 are so arranged, that each lobule forms a sort of cone, the apex of which is di- 

 rected towards the Rete Testis. It is difficult to trace the free extremities of 

 the Seminiferous tubes, owing to the frequency of their anastomoses with each 

 other ; in this respect, therefore, the structure of the testis accords closely with 

 that of the Kidney. The diameter of the tubuli is, for the most part, very uni- 

 form; in the natural condition they seem to vary from about the l-195th to the 

 l-170th of an inch ; but when injected with mercury, they are distended to a 

 size nearly double the smaller of these dimensions. When they have reached 

 to within a line or two of the rete testis, they cease to be convoluted, several 

 unite together into tubes of larger diameter, and these enter the rete testis under 

 the name of tubuli recti. The rete testis consists of from seven to thirteen ves- 

 sels, which run in a waving course, anastomose with each other, and again divide, 

 being all connected together. The vasa efferentia which pass to the head of 

 the epididymis are at first straight, but soon become convoluted, each forming a 

 sort of cone, of which the apex is directed towards the rete testis, the base to 

 the head of the epididymis. The number of these is stated to vary from nine 

 to thirty ; and their length to be about eight inches. The epididymis itself 

 consists of a very convoluted canal, the length of which is about twenty-one 

 feet. Into its lower extremity, that is, the angle which it makes where it termi- 

 nates in the vas deferens, is poured the secretion of the vasculum aberrans or 



