200 EXTERIOR OF PELVIS, ETC. 



The spermatie cord consists of external spermatic fascia, 

 cremaster, infundibuliform fascia, vessels, lymphatics, 

 nerves, and the vas deferens, which can be readily 

 isolated from the other structures, being recognized by 

 its whipcord-like texture. The arteries of the cord 

 are the spermatic, deferential, and the cremasteric; of 

 these the spermatic supplies the substance of the testis, 

 passing into it either through the tunica albuginea, or 

 through the back of the mediastinum testis. The veins, 

 passing from the testis, unite in forming the pampiniform 

 plexus, which passes into a single trunk forming in the 

 body of the cord, and terminating, the right one in the 

 vena cava, and the left in the left renal vein. 



The veins of the cord are very liable to a varicose 

 condition (varicocele), which is due to several anatomical 

 causes: (1) their tortuous arrangement and free anas- 

 tomoses at their emergence from the gland ; (2) their 

 want of support, lying as they do in the loose areolar 

 tissue, which allows of the weight of the contained col- 

 umn of blood obliterating their valves ; (3) the pressure 

 they receive in their passage through the inguinal canal. 

 It is a matter of fact that the left spermatic veins are 

 more liable to this condition than the right, the causes 

 assigned being, that the left testicle hangs lower, and 

 that its upward current of blood meets at a right angle 

 that proceeding from the kidney in the left renal vein, 

 and that they are liable to constant pressure from the 

 contents of the sigmoid flexure of the colon. 



The lymphatics are numerous and large, and terminate 

 in the lumbar glands, which become rapidly affected in 

 malignant disease of the testis. 



In addition to the coverings mentioned, the testicle 

 has that derived from the peritoneum ; the tunica vagi- 



