282 



DISSECTION OF THE ABDOMEN. 



In its course to the urethra it ascends over the hinder part of the 

 testicle, on the inner side of the epididymis, and then along the 

 blood-vessels of the spermatic cord, with which it enters the internal 

 abdominal ring ; here it bends downwards round the epigastric 

 artery, as has already been seen, and is then continued behind the 

 bladder (p. 389), and through the prostate to open into the urethra. 

 The length of this part of the excretory duct is about two feet, and 

 the width of its canal about 1 th of an inch. 



Opening into the vas deferens, at the angle of union with the 

 epididymis, there is frequently a small, narrow, ceecal appendage, the 

 vas aberrans of Haller (fig. 104, I). It is convoluted, and projects 

 upwards for one or two inches amongst the vessels of the cord. 

 Like the epididymis, it is longer when it is uncoiled. Its capacity 

 is greatest at the free end. 



Structure. The vas deferens has a thick muscular coat, which is 

 covered externally by fibrous tissue, and lined internally by mucous 

 membrane. To the feel the duct is firm and wiry, like whip-cord. 

 On a section its wall is dense and of a rather yellow colour. 



The muscular coat is composed of longitudinal and circular fibres 

 arranged in strata. Both externally and internally is a longitudinal 

 layer, the latter being very thin ; and between them is the layer of 

 circular fibres. 



The mucous membrane is marked by longitudinal folds in the 

 straight part of the canal, and by irregular ridges in the sacculated 

 portion. 



Organ of Giraldes. In the spermatic cord of the foetus and child, and some- 

 times in the adult, a small whitish, granular-looking body may be recognised, 

 which is named the organ of Giraldes, or the paradidymis. It consists of 

 several small masses of convoluted tubules which appear to be remnants of 

 the lower part of the Wolffian body. 



BLOOD-VESSELS AND NERVES OF THE TESTICLE. The branches 

 of the spermatic artery supply offsets to the epididymis, and erter 

 the posterior part of the mediastinum. The vessels are finely 

 divided in the vascular structure lining the interior of the tunica 

 albuginea, before being distributed to the lobes of the testis. 



The spermatic vein results from the union of branches issuing 

 from the back of the testicle and the epididymis. As it ascends 

 along the cord its branches form the spermatic or pampiniform plexus. 

 On the right side it joins the vena cava, and on the left the renal 

 vein. 



Lymphatics The lymphatics of the testicle ascend on the blood-vessels, and join 

 the lumbar glands. 



The nerves are derived from the sympathetic, and accompany the 

 artery to the testis. 



Vessels of the vas deferens. A special artery is furnished to the 

 vas from the upper or lower vesical, and reaches as far as the testis, 

 where it anastomoses with the spermatic artery. Veins from the 

 epididymis enter the spermatic vein. The nerves are derived from the 

 hypogastric plexus. 



course to 

 urethra ; 



length and 

 size. 



Vas aberrans 

 frequently 

 present : 



situation, 



and size. 



Three coats 

 form the 

 duct : a 

 fibrous, 



a muscular, 



and a 

 mucous. 



Organ of 

 Giraldes : 



remains of 



Wolffian 



body. 



Spermatic 

 artery. 



Spermatic 



and nerves. 



Vessels of 

 the duct. 



