390 MUSCLES. 



of the pubes. As the testicle descends, it comes in contact 

 with a fasciculus of these fibres, and takes it along. This con- 

 stitutes the Cremaster muscle, which, in adult life, and in a 

 strong muscular subject, is seen descending on the outside of 

 the spermatic chord, and spreading over the anterior part of 

 the tunica vaginalis in arches with their convexities down- 

 wards, then rising on the inner side of the chord, to be inserted 

 into the spine of the pubes.* 

 It draws up the testicle. 



Fascia Transversalis Abdominis. 



The Fascia Transversalis is placed immediately behind the 

 transversus muscle, between it and the peritoneum. An open- 

 ing in it, which permits the spermatic chord to pass, is called 

 the Internal Abdominal Ring, in order to distinguish it from the 

 opening in the tendon of the external oblique, called the Exter- 

 nal Ring. The internal ring is rather nearer to the symphysis 

 pubis than to the spine of the ilium. The space between the 

 internal ring and the external ring, is about eighteen lines in 

 the adult, and is very properly called the Abdominal Canal, 

 from giving passage to the spermatic chord. The anterior side 

 of the canal is formed by the tendon of the external oblique;- 

 the inferior part, in the erect posture, is formed by Gimbernat's 

 ligament; the posterior side is formed by the fascia trans versa- 

 lis; and above, this canal is overhung by the internal oblique 

 and the transversalis muscles. The spermatic chord, after pe- 



* Anat. De L'Homme, par Jul. Cloquet. This account, though easily verified 

 in some subjects, and especially in such as are muscular, does not appear to be 

 applicable to all, or, in other words, the arrangement in them is not quite so ob- 

 vious. It does not agree with Mr. John Hunter's observations on the descent of 

 the testicle; for he always found, while the latter was still in the loins, the cre- 

 master running towards it. Moreover, in the buffalo of America, a testicle of 

 which Dr. R. Harlan, of this city, was obliging enough to furnish me with for 

 dissection, I found that the cremaster, though remarkably robust and strong, 

 forms none of those nooses or arches with their convexities downwards, but ter- 

 minates at the testicle in a tendinous and somewhat abrupt manner. Taking all 

 these points into consideration, it may be, that a part of the cremaster is formed 

 after the manner indicated by Mr. Hunter, and another part after that mentioned 

 by M.. Cloquet; or, indeed, cases may occur, presenting exclusively one or the 

 other. 



