CHAPTER XIX 

 THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM 



I. MALE ORGANS 



The Testis 



The testes are compound tubular glands. Each testis is enclosed 

 in a dense connective- tissue capsule, the tunica alhuginea (Fig. 233, a). 

 Outside the latter is a closed serous sac, the tunica vaginalis, the 

 visceral layer of which is attached to 

 the tunica albuginea, while the parietal 

 layer lines the inner surface of the 

 scrotum. Posteriorly the serous sac 

 is wanting, the testis lying behind and 

 outside of the tunica vaginalis. As the 

 latter is derived from the peritoneum, 

 being brought down with and invagi- 

 nated by the testes in their descent to 

 the scrotum, it is lined by mesothelial 

 cells. To the inner side of the tunica 

 albuginea is a layer of loose connective 

 tissue rich in blood-vessels, the tunica 

 vasciilosa. Posteriorly the tunica albu- 

 ginea is greatly thickened to form the 

 corpus Highmori, or mediastinum testis, 



from which strong connective-tissue gj^ea; b, connective-tissue septum 



septa radiate (Figs. 2^7,, m and 2^4,b). between lobules; m, mediastinum; t, 



^ \ o vjvj7 1 convoluted portion of semmiterous 



These septa pass completely through tubule; s, straight tubule; r, rete 



-1 ^ ~ J ui J „ vu 4-U„ i-.-^:^^ testis; e, vasa efferentia; c, tubules 



the organ and blend with the tumca ^^ ^^'^^'^^ epididymis; te,v^s epi- 



albuginea at various points. In this didymis; vd, vas deferens; va, vas 



. , . . , ,. aberrans; *, paradidymis. 



way the mterior of the testis is subdi- 

 vided into a number of pyramidal chambers or lobules, with bases 

 directed toward the periphery and apices at the mediastinum (Figs. 

 '.S3 and 234). 



Behind the testis and outside of its tunica albuginea is an elongated 

 )ody^the epididymis (Figs. 233, c and 234, c), consisting of convoluted 



339 



Fig. 233.- — Diagram illustrating 

 the Course and Relations of the Semi- 

 niferous Tubules and their Excretory 

 Ducts. (Piersol.) a, Tunica albu- 



