THE TESTICLES AND THEIR COVERINGS 



1379 



The cremasteric artery (a. tpermatica cxterna) is a branch of the deep epigastric artery. It 

 accompanies the spermatic cord and supplies the Cremaster muscle and other coverings of the 

 cord, anastomosing with the spermatic and deferential arteries. 



The spermatic veins (Figs. 524 and 1129) emerge from the back of the tt-stis and receive 

 tributaries from the epididymis; they unite and form a convoluted plexus, the pampiniform 

 plexus (plexus pampiniformis), which forms the chief mass of the cord; the vessels composing 

 this plexus are very numerous, and ascend along the cord in front of the vas deferens; below the 

 external or superficial abdominal ring they unite to form three or four veins, which pass along the 

 inguinal canal, and, entering the abdomen through the internal or deep abdominal ring, coalesce 

 to form two veins. These again unite to form a single vein, which opens on the right side into 

 the inferior vena cava at an acute angle, and on the left side into the left renal vein at a right angle. 



The lymphatic vessels of the scrotum terminate in the superficial inguinal nodes. The lym- 

 phatics of the testicle join the lymphatics of the epididymis and of the visceral layer of the vaginal 

 tunic of the testicle, and ascend in the spermatic cord. They reach the lumbar region along the 

 spermatic bloodvessels and terminate in the lateral aortic nodes, and sometimes in the nodes in 

 front of the aorta. The lymphatics of the seminal duct pass to the external iliac nodes. 



The nerves are the spermatic plexus from the sympathetic, joined by filaments from the 

 pelvic plexus which accompany the artery of the vas deferens. 



FIG. 1129. Spermatic veins. (Testut.) 



The testes (Figs. 1124 and 1129) are suspended in the scrotum by the spermatic 

 cords, the left testis hanging somewhat lower than its fellow. The average dimen- 

 sions of this gland are from one and a half to two inches (4 cm.) in length, one 

 inch (2.5 cm.) in breadth, and an inch and a quarter (3 cm.) in the antero-posterior 

 diameter, and the weight varies from six to eight drams (25 to 30 grams). It is 

 of a grayish-white color, and of resilient consistency. Each gland is of an oval 



