37 THE DISEASES OF THE SEXUAL GLANDS 



Embryological, Anatomical, and Physiological Preliminary Remarks. 

 For the comprehension of the physiology and pathology of the sexual glands 

 it is necessary to distinguish sharply between these proper and the accessory 

 genital apparatus. The rudiments of the accessory apparatus (primordial 

 kidneys with Wolffian and Mullerian ducts) are common to both sexes. 

 According as to whether sexual glands develop into testicles or ovaries do 

 the indifferent rudiments develop into epididymis, paradidymis, vasa 

 deferentia, and prostate, or into epoophoron, paroophoron, Gartner's ducts, 

 tubes, uterus, and vagina. 



Two parts of the sexual glands are to be distinguished: the interstitial 

 glands 1 (consisting in the so-called Leydig's interstitial tissue) , and the specific 

 glands of generation (in man, seminiferous tubules, Sertoli's cells [?] in 

 w T omen, the follicular apparatus). 



A. The Interstitial Glands 



The Leydig's interstitial cells are epithelioid cell accumulations imbedded 

 in the sexual glands of the male. They are filled with acidophilic and baso- 

 philic granules, show great similarity to the cells of the suprarenal cortex, 

 and like these are of mesodermal origin (Simon, 1892, Wallart, Seitz). These 

 cell formations develop enormously at the time of puberty. In women we 

 understand by "interstitial glands" a cell complex that develops from the 

 atretic follicles of the theca interna. In women these cells develop very 

 markedly at the time of puberty, and temporarily during pregnancy (Wallart.} 

 I must not omit to state that the view is held by many that in the highest 

 female mammals, in the human species and in monkeys, the interstitial glands 

 are inconstant (Bucura). This has been denied on other sides, and I would 

 only state here that the function of the interstitial glands in man is to-day 

 already so sharply delimited and that it is concerned with functions so im- 

 portant, functions that influence the conformation of the body in such an 

 extensive manner, that it is hard to believe that so important an organ is 

 absent in women. 



According to the view of some of the authors the interstitial glands govern 

 in man in this special field the development of the primary and secondary 

 sexual characters, and are hence of great importance for the formation of 

 the body. 



The distinction between interstitial glands and generative apparatus is 



1 The distinction between "internal secretory and germinative" that up to the present has 

 been the practice in the literature, and that was also retained by me in my article on the diseases 

 of ductless glands in Mehr-Staehclin's handbook, must be rejected by me, as it seems to me to 

 lead to the coarsest misunderstandings. Steinach designates the "innersekretorische" glands 

 as " Pubertatsdriise." It seems to be undoubted however that the "internal secretory" activity 

 of the generative apparatus is very considerable. Indeed the entire teaching of hormones has 

 been developed -from the influencing of the growth of mammary glands through the hormone of 

 the fetus or of the chorionic epithelium, that is properly speaking, the ovum. 



