TESTES EPIDIDYMIS. 541 



which is derived from the aortic and renal plexus, the genitai branch of 

 the genito-crural nerve, and the scrotal branch of the ilio-scrotal. 



The Vas deferens, the excretory duct of the testicle, is situated along 

 the posterior border of the cord, where it may easily be distinguished by 

 the hard and cordy sensation which it communicates to the fingers. Its 

 parietes are very thick and tough, and its canal extremely small, and lined 

 by the mucous membrane continued from the urethra. 



The Coverings of the spermatic cord are, the spermatic fascia, cremaster 

 muscle, and fascia propria. The spermatic fascia is a prolongation of the 

 intercolumnar fascia, derived from the borders of the external abdominal 

 ring during the descent of the testicle in the foetus. The cremasteric co- 

 vering (erythroid) is the thin muscular expansion formed by the spreading 

 out of the fibres of the cremaster, which is likewise carried down by the 

 testis during its descent. The fascia propria is a continuation of the 

 infundibuliform process from the transversalis fascia, which immediately 

 invests the vessels of the cord, and is also obtained during the descent of 

 the testis. 



TESTES. 



The TESTIS (testicle) is a small oblong and rounded gland, somewhat 

 compressed upon the sides and behind, and suspended in the cavity of the 

 scrotum by the spermatic cord. 



Its position in the scrotum is oblique ; so that the upper extremity is 

 directed upwards and forwards, and a little out- 

 wards ; the lower, downwards and backwards, and 

 a little inwards ; the convex border looks forwards 

 and downwards, and the flattened border, to which 

 the cord is attached, backwards and upwards. Lying 

 against its outer and posterior body is a flattened 

 body which follows the course of the testicle, and 

 extends from its upper to its lower extremity ; this 

 body is named, from its relation to the testis, epi- 

 didymis (*j, upon, 6/<5ufxos, the testicle) ; it is divided 

 into a central part or body, an upper extremity or 

 globus major, and a lower extremity, globus minor 

 (cauda) epididymis. The globus major is situated 

 against the upper end of the testicle, to which it is 

 closely adherent ; the globus minor is placed at its lower end, is attached 

 to the testis by areolar tissue, and curves upwards, to become continuous 

 with the vas deferens. The testis is invested by three tunics, tunica vagi- 

 nalis, tunica albuginea, and tunica vasculosa, and is connected to the inner 

 surface of the dartos by a large quantity of extremely loose areolar tissue, 



* A transverse section of the testicle. 1. The cavity of the tunica vaginalis; the most 

 external layer is the tunica vaginalis reflexa ; and that in contact witl^the organ, the 

 tunica vaginalis propria. 2. The tunica albuginea. 3. The mediastinum testis, giving 

 off numerous fibrous cords in a radiated direction to the internal surface of the tunica 

 albuginea. The cut extremities of the vessels below the number belong to the rete 

 testis; and those above, Jo the arteries and veins of the organ. 4. The tunica vascu- 

 losa, or pia mater testis. 5. One of the lobules, consisting of the convolutions of the 

 tubuli seminiferi, and terminating by a single duct, the vas rectum. Corresponding 

 lobules are seen between the other fibrous cords of the mediastinum. 0. Section of the 

 epididymis. 



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