

TESTES. 



TESTES. 



561 



The Testicles in the embryo are situated in the lumbar regions, 

 immediately in front of and somewhat below the kidneys. They 

 have connected with them iriferiorly a peculiar structure which 

 assists in their descent, and is called the gubernaculum testis. 



The Gubernaculum is a soft and conical cord composed of cellular 

 tissue containing in its cells a gelatiniforrn fluid. In the abdomen it 

 lies in front of the psoas muscle, and passes along the spermatic 

 canal which it serves to distend for the passage of the testis. It is 

 attached by its superior and larger extremity to the lower end of 

 the testis and epididymis, and by the inferior extremity to the bottom 

 of the scrotum. The gubernaculum is surrounded by a thin layer 

 of muscular fibres, the cremaster, which pass upwards upon this 

 body to be attached to the testis. Inferiorly the muscular fibres 

 divide into three processes which, according to Mr. Curling,* are 

 thus attached : " The external and broadest is connected to Pou- 

 part's ligament in the inguinal canal; the middle forms a lengthened 

 band, which escapes at the external abdominal ring, and descends 

 to the bottom of the scrotum, where it joins the dartos ; the internal 

 passes in the direction inwards, and has a firm attachment to the 

 os pubis and sheath of the rectus muscle. Besides these a number 

 of muscular fibres are reflected from the internal oblique on the 

 front of the gubernaculum." 



Fig. 167.t 



Fig. 168.t 



* See an excellent paper " On the Structure of the Gubernaculum," &c. by Mr. Cur- 

 ling, Lecturer on Morbid Anatomy in the London Hospital, in the Lancet, vol. ii. 

 1840-41, p. 70. 



t A diagram illustrating the descent of the testis. 1. The testis. 2. The epididy- 

 mis. 3,3. The peritoneum. 4. The pouch formed around the testis by the peritoneum. 

 5. The pubic portion of the cremaster attached to the lower part of the testis. 6. The 

 portion of the cremaster attached to Poupart's ligament. The mode of eversion of the 

 cremaster is shown by these lines. 7. The gubernaculum, attached to the bottom of 

 the scrotum, and becoming shortened by the contraction of the muscular fibres which 

 surround it. 8, 8. The cavity of the scrotum. 9. The peritoneal cavity. 



I In this figure the testis has completed its descent. The gubernaculum is shortened 

 to its utmost, and the cremaster is completely everted. The pouch of peritoneum above 

 the testis is compressed so as to form a tubular canal. 1. A dotted line marks the 

 point at which the tunica vaginalis will terminate superiorly ; and the figure 2 its 

 cavity. 3. The peritoneal cavity. 



71 



