THE HOESE. 



119 



white muscle also, affording fixity to the 

 pelvic portion of the urethra. 



Beneath the muscular tunic of the urethra 

 we find a loose cellular tissue, and pos- 

 teriorly also some erectile structure continu- 

 ous on to the penis. 



On slitting open the pelvic portion of the 

 urethra, to examine its mucus membrane, 

 we find that it is smooth, glistening, and 

 thrown into longitudinal folds. It is antero- 

 superiorly raised 'by the sub-mucus tissue 

 into a permanent ridge, termed the crest of 

 the urethra or verumontanum. This has a 

 depression about its middle, and on each 

 side are the elliptical orifices of the ejacula- 

 tory ducts, surrounded by the openings of 

 the prostatic ducts. Posteriorly and later- 

 ally are little papillated projections, pierced 

 by ducts emanating from Cowper's glands. 

 These tubular processes are arranged in two 

 parallel lines longitudinally to the course of 

 the uretln^a. 



The pelvic portion of the urethra is sup- 

 plied with blood from the internal pudic, 

 and the veins empty into the vessel of the 

 same name. Its nerves are derived from 

 the two last sacral and accompanying sym- 

 pathetic filaments. 



The lymphatics of the pelvic urethra are 

 similarly disposed to those of the bladder. 



GENERATIVE ORGANS OF THE MALE. 



The last division of our subject is that 

 of the abdominal generative organs, only a 

 part of the generative system, and consist- 

 ing in the vasa deferentia, vesiculae semin- 

 ales, prostate and Cowper's. glands. 



VASA DEFERENTIA. 



There are two vasa deferentia, one from 

 each testicle, for the passage of semen to 

 seminal reservoirs. 



The vas deferens arises from the posterior 

 part of the epididymis or globus minor, 

 passing through the inguinal canals, and 

 reaching the abdomen ; it is situated in the 

 sub-serous tissue, taking a course upward, 

 backward, and inward, to reach the brim 

 of the pelvis ; then, crossing the com-se of 



the ureters, it gets on to the bladder, where 

 it is dilated, and forms the bulbous por- 

 tion. 



Its attachments are serous and cellular to 

 the various parts mentioned, whilst its pos- 

 terior part is connected with the urethra. 



The vas deferens is related, in its com-se 

 from the inguinal canal, to the bladder ; 

 after it leaves the constituents of the cord, 

 with the parietes of the abdomen ; crossing 

 the under surface of the iliac vessels, and 

 reaching the bladder on the inner side of 

 the ureter ; also lying internally to the 

 seminal vesicles, and the terminating portion 

 being covered by the prostate. 



The structure of the vas deferens is simi- 

 lar throughout, with the exception of the 

 greater thickness of its coats at the bulbous 

 portion, being thinnest where it contributes 

 to form the ejaculatory duct. 



This tube, of very various length, is con- 

 stituted of an outer cellular investment, not 

 requiring pecuUar notice ; of an intermediate 

 contractile and elastic tunic; and, as its 

 name implies, is composed of muscular 

 fibres and elastic tissue, arranged in two 

 layers, i. e., an outer longitudinal and an in- 

 ner circular one, which are easily perceived. 



The internal or mucus lining is thrown 

 into longitudinal folds, in the narrow part 

 of the duct ; but in the bulbous part it forms 

 permanent rugae, taking various directions, 

 so as to enclose irregular interspaces. 



The vas deferens is supplied with blood 

 principally from the artery of the cord, al- 

 though the epigastric furnishes a twig to it 

 as well. The bulbous portion is supplied 

 also by vessels of no small calibre from the 

 iliacs. 



Its nerves are from the sympathetic, as 

 well as from the second and thkd lumbar. 



VESICULJE SEMINALES. 



The seminal vesicles are one on each side 

 of the bladder, and act as receptacles for 

 the semen. 



Each seminal vesicle extends from behind 

 foi-ward, upward, and outward, being ex- 

 ternal to the bulbous portion of the vas 



