676 A MANUAL OF ANATOMY 



The funicular portion of the processus vaginalis is sometimes closed at 

 intervals along the course of the spermatic cord, and, when serous fluid 

 accumulates in the intervening patent portions, the condition is known as 

 encysted hydrocele of the cord. 



Abnormal Positions of Testis. — (i) The testis may remain permanently in 

 the abdominal cavity. (2) Its descent may be arrested in the inguinal canal, 

 or at the external abdominal ring. Such conditions constitute the condition 

 known as cryptovchismus. 



Ectopia Testis. — The testis may occupy unusual situations, (i) It may 

 be found in the anterior part of the perineum. (2) It may be found on the 

 front of the thigh in the region of the saphenous opening, in which cases it 

 might simulate a femoral hernia. 



For the structure and development of the testis, see pp. 683, 684. 



Subperitoneal Fat or Areolar Tissue. — ^This is situated between 

 the fascia transversahs and the parietal peritoneum. Its con- 

 dition is subject to much variety, being fairly well marked in 

 some bodies, and in others hardly perceptible. Internal to 

 the external iliac vein at Poupart's ligament it forms the septum 

 crurale, which closes the upper end of the crural canal, and 

 at the internal abdominal ring it is carried downwards round the 

 spermatic cord underneath the infundibuliform fascia. 



Parietal Peritoneum. — This is the innermost covering of the 

 abdominal wall, and it is connected with the fascia transversahs 

 by the subperitoneal areolar tissue. Behind the internal abdominal 

 ring it forms a slight projection, which in some cases enters the 

 ring, the corresponding depression on its abdominal aspect at this 

 point being known as the digital fossa. The projecting part of the 

 parietal peritoneum corresponds with. the upper end of the original 

 processus vaginalis, and presents a slight nodule, or it may be a 

 slender thread-like process. It is here in the female where a 

 diverticular process may extend for a short distance into the 

 inguinal canal in front of the round ligament of the uterus, 

 forming the canal of Nuck. 



Peritoneal Plicse and Inguinal Fossse. — ^The peritoneum lining the 

 posterior surface of the anterior abdominal wall below the umbilicus 

 presents plicse or folds and fossae or pouches. 



The plicse are five in number, one being situated in the middle line, 

 and two on either side. The median plica extends from the apex 

 of the bladder to the umbilicus, and contains the urachus. It is 

 called the plica urachi. Of the two lateral plicae the more internal 

 one contains the obliterated hypogastric artery, and is called the 

 plica hypogastrica. It is oblique in direction, and meets the plica 

 urachi and its fellow of the opposite side at the umbilicus. It 

 corresponds to the junction of the inner two-thirds and outer third 

 of Hesselbach's triangle. The external of the two lateral plicae is 

 produced by the deep epigastric artery, and is called the plica 

 epigastrica. 



The inguinal fossse are six in number, three right and three 

 left, and are called internal, middle, and external. The internal 

 inguinal fossa is situated bet-ween the plica urachi and plica hy])o- 

 gastrica, and lies behind the inner two- thirds of Hesselbach's 



