THE TESTICLES. 99 



dus of the latter and the ureter. It then converges towards 

 its fellow, along the under extremity of the bladder, at the in- 

 ner margin of the vesicula seminalis of the same side, and 

 finally terminates in the urethra near the neck of the bladdefr, by 

 forming the Ductus Ejaculatorius with the assistance of the duct 

 of the adjoining vesicula seminalis. About two and a half 

 inches from its termination, it enlarges and becomes somewhat 

 tortuous. 



This duct consists of two coats: the external one is hard, 

 compact, and occasionally, fibres are seen in it; but its struc- 

 ture is not very evident, and is peculiar. The internal is a 

 mucous membrane. 



For the description of the remaining portions of the chord, 

 see Spermatic Artery, Vein, Lymphatics, and Plexus of Nerves. 



The Testicles undergo a remarkable change in their position, 

 from the earliest developement of their rudiments to the perfect 

 foetal state. They are not formed in the scrotum, but in the 

 abdomen just below the kidneys; from which position they are 

 gradually transferred About the middle of the third month of 

 gestation they are two lines long, and placed behind the perito- 

 neum, to which they loosely adhere. The vas deferens then, 

 instead of rising up on the side of the epididymis, goes straight 

 down into the pelvis. At this period may be seen the guberna- 

 culum testis, discovered by J. Hunter,* which becomes more 

 distinct in a few weeks afterwards, and assumes a triangular 

 appearance. This gubernaculum has the office of drawing the 

 testicle down into the scrotum; its point commences in the up- 

 per part of the latter, somewhat below the external abdominal 

 ring; it passes through the abdominal canal, ascends upon the ilia- 

 cus internus muscle, and is attached by its base to the inferior 

 end of the testicle. In front of the gubernaculum, a process, or 

 small pouch of peritoneum, passes through the abdominal canal 

 to the upper part of the scrotum. By the contraction of the 

 gubernaculum, the testicle is brought, about the seventh or 

 eighth month, into the scrotum, by sliding down behind the 

 pouch. The lower end of the pouch, at which the testicle is 

 finally arrested, becomes the tunica vaginalis testis. 



* Med. Comment. Lond. 1777. 



