146 THE BODY OF THE TESTICLE. 



blood-vessels with their connecting cellular tissue, form on the 

 inner surface of the tunic a delicate membrane called the tunica 

 vasculosa. 



The Epididymis 



Differs in color from the testicle, being more or less reddish. 

 It commences at the upper and anterior extremity of the testicle, 

 and passes down the posterior edge to the lower end. 



At the commencement the epididymis is somewhat rounded 

 in form, and its upper part, or head, has been called the globus 

 major: as it descends it lessens, and about the middle of the 

 testicle it is flattish. Its lower end is rounded and forms the 

 globus minor. 



It is firmly attached to the body of the testicle, at the upper 

 end, where the vasa efFerentia pass to it ; and it is also attached 

 to it below ; but at the middle it appears nearly detached from 

 it. It has therefore been compared to an arch resting with its 

 two extremities on the back of the testis ; it is, however, in con- 

 tact with it at its middle ; but about the middle it only adheres 

 by one of its edges to the body of the testis, and generally by 

 its internal edge. It has a coat which is less firm than the 

 tunica albuginea of the testicle, described on the last page. 

 The tunica vaginalis of the testicle is so reflected as to cover 

 a great part of the epididymis which is not in contact with the 

 testicle, and also of those surfaces of the epididymis and testis 

 which are in contact with each other and do not adhere. 



The Body of the Testicle. 



When the tunica albuginea is cut through, and the substance 

 of the testicle examined, it appears to consist of a soft pulpy 

 substance of convoluted threads, of a yellowish brown color, 

 which is divided into separate portions by very delicate septa, 

 attached to the internal surface of the tunica albuginea at the 

 posterior part of the testicle. After maceration, by using 

 a fine needle, to detach them from the cellular substance, these 

 threads may be drawn out to a great length. In some animals 

 they are larger than in the human species; in them, it is said, 

 they are evidently hollow, and that very small blood-vessels 

 appear in their coats. When mercury is injected into the 



