92 ORGANS OF GENERATION. 



bercle, to which Sir Everard Home* has particularly called the 

 attention of the profession, and considered as a Third Lobe ; it 

 being certain that it is frequently the seat of disease and tume- 

 faction. 



On the under surface of the canal formed in the prostate, by 

 the urethra, is, as mentioned, the oblong elevation called the 

 Verumontanum, or Caput Gallinaginis. It commences a little in 

 front of the uvula vesicse, and, being broader and higher behind, 

 comes to a point very gradually before ; it is about eight or ten 

 lines long. Along the posterior part of this ridge a long cleft 

 is sometimes found, it being the orifice of a lacuna, first observed 

 by Morgagni; and in front of it are the orifices, bordering upon 

 each other, of the ductus ejaculatorii, very superficial folds of 

 the lining membrane, some three or four in number, radiate from 

 the anterior end of the caput to the anterior end of the mem- 

 branous portion of the urethra. 



The prostate consists in a condensed, white, extensible, though 

 easily lacerated fibrous cellular tissue, within which are placed 

 a greatnumber of mucous follicles, that have from eight to twelve 

 ducts, or, according to Loder, from thirty-two to forty-four, pass- 

 ing obliquely forwards, and terminating in the urethra, as stated, 

 at the sides of the urethral crest, or caput gallinaginis. The 

 fluid secreted is thick, ropy, white, and semi-transparent, in a 

 healthy state. The prostate is. surrounded by a fibrous capsule, 

 to be described. 



The lacunae of the third lobe penetrate the coats of the blad- 

 der, behind the caput gallinaginis. 



Of the. Glands of ' Couper. Theseglands are also intended for 

 the secretion of mucus, or a fluid very much like it, into the ca- 

 nal of the urethra. They are two in number, one on each side, 

 and are situated in advance of the prostate, between the lamina? 

 of the triangular ligament, at the point where the bulb of the 

 urethra adheres to it. Commonly, they are about the size of a 

 garden pea, but not unfrequently much smaller, and, in some in- 

 stances, cannot be found at all, which induced Hiester to declare, 

 that he had searched for them fruitlessly. They are yellowish, 

 hard, and consist of several lobules united together. Each one 



* Diseases of Prostate. 



