482 



DISSECTION OF THE ABDOMEN. 



lastly, as they leave the upper part of the gland they are convoluted, and 

 are called coni vasculosi, or vasa efferentia. 



The lobes of the testis (fig. 169, a.) are formed by bundles of the semi- 

 niferal tubes, and are situate in the intervals between the processes of the 



Fig. 163. 



a. Lobes of the testis. 



b. Septa between the lobes. 



c. Tubuli recti. 



d. Mediastinum testis. 



e. Rete testis. 



/. Vasa efferentia. 



g. Globus major. 



h. Body, and i, globus minor of the epididymis. 



7i. Vas deferens. 



1. Vas aberrans. 



n. Rete testis, cut. 



o. Finer septa. 



p. Epididymis, cut across. 



r. Mediastinum, cut across. 



6' 



VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL SECTIONS OF THE TESTIS TO SHOW THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE 

 SEMINAL TUBES, AND SEPTA. 



tunica albuginea : their number is differently stated: according to one 

 authority (Berres) they are 250; but according to another (Krause) 400 

 or more. They are conical in form, with the base of each at the circum- 

 ference, and the apex at the mediastinum testis; and those in the centre 

 of the testicle are the largest. 



Each is made up of one, two, or more tortuous seminal tubules ; and the 

 minute tubes in one lobe are united with those in the neighboring lobes. 

 Towards the apex of each lobe the tubules become less bent, and are 

 united together; and the tubuli of the several lobes are further joined at 

 the same spot into larger canals the tubuli recti. 



Tubuli recti (fig. 169, c). The seminal tubes unite together, becoming 

 larger (^ T ff tn of an inch) and straighter in direction, and are named tubuli 

 recti or vasa recta: they are about, twenty in number, and piercing the 

 iibrous mediastinum enter into the rete testis. 



Rete testis (fig. 169, e). In the mediastinum the seminal tubes have 

 very thin walls, and are situate in the anterior part, in front of the blood- 

 vessels; they communicate freely so as to form a network. 



Vasa efferentia (fig. 169, /). About twelve or twenty seminal tubes 

 issue from the top of the rete, and leave the upper part of the testicle as 

 the vasa efferentia: these are larger than the tubes with which they are 

 continuous, and end in the common excretory duct. Though straight at 

 first they soon become convoluted, and have been named coni vasculosi. 

 In the natural state they are about half an inch in length, but when un- 

 ravelled they measure six inches; and they join the excretory duct at in- 

 tervals of about three inches. They have a muscular coat of longitudinal 

 and circular fibres; and the epithelium of the mucous lining is columnar 

 and ciliated. 



The EXCRETORY DUCT receives the vasa efferentia from the upper part 

 of the gland, and extends thence to the urethra. Its first part, which is 

 in contact with the testis, is very fiexuous, and forms the epididymis: but 

 the remainder is straight, and is named vas deferens. 



