144 TUNICA VAGINALIS TEST1S. 



renul plexus, and from the sympathetic nerve. These fibres 

 accompany the spermatic vessels, and in all probability enter the 

 body of the testis and the epididymis. The spermatic cord and 

 cremaster muscle receive filaments from the second lumbar nerve. 



In addition to these vessels, the Vas Deferens, which is much 

 firmer than either of them, is always to be distinguished in the 

 back part of the cord. 



They are all covered in frogt and on the sides by the cremas- 

 ter muscle, which passes with them from the lower margin of the 

 internal oblique, through the abdominal ring, and continues to the 

 upper part of the external coat of the testicle, which is a sac 

 apparently containing that organ, and upon this sac it is spread 

 out and terminates. 



The Tunica Vaginalis. 



The External Coat of the testicle, which is commonly called 

 the Tunica Vaginalis, is a complete sac which encloses the tes- 

 ticle as the pericardium encloses the heart. It covers the body 

 of the testicle and epididymis, and adheres closely to them.* 

 It is then reflected from them so as to form a loose thin sac, 

 (Tunica Vaginalis Reflexa^) which appears to contain them. 

 The cavity of the tunica vaginalis commonly extends above the 

 body of the testis up the cord, and is oval or pyriform. This 

 sac is so reflected from the body of the testicle that there is a 

 place on the upper and back part of that body, at which the 

 blood-vessels enter it, without penetrating the sac. 



It resembles the peritoneum and other serous membranes in 

 texture, and is therefore thin and delicate. It always contains a 

 quantity of moisture, sufficient to lubricate the surface which it 

 forms. 



When the tunica vaginalis is laid open, the testicle appears as 

 if it were contained in the posterior part of its cavity. 

 At the upper part of the testicle near the point at which it is 

 connected with the head of the epididymis we commonly find a 

 little hydaliforme body, first noticed by Morgagni, called the 

 hydatis tunica vaginalis. 



* This part of the vaginal tunic, is called the tunica vaginalis propria. P. 



