THE MALE ORGANS OF GENERATION. 245 



cremaster, which is no more than a shp given off by the 

 internal obUque abdominal muscle. The tunica albu- 

 ginea is the first true testicular coat, being of a white 

 fibrous or tendinous nature, and enclosing the gland as 

 Ghsson's capsule does the liver. In the centre is situated, 

 like to the middle pith of an orange, a portion of fibrous 

 texture called the mediastinum testes ; from which proceed 

 certain layers dividing the gland into separate portions, like 

 to the quarters of the fruit just alluded to. These divisions 

 run from the centre towards the internal surface of the 

 tunica albuginea. The third coat of the testes is a tunica 

 vasculorum, being the nutrient tunic of the gland from which 

 vessels run into each of the divisions. Within the divisions 

 the contents are the same, so that the description of one 

 will serve for all. These spaces are filled with the convo- 

 lutions of the extreme ends of the duct, within which the 

 semen is secreted, and which are called lobules. The 

 upper portions of these convolutions become imperfectly 

 straight, and are spoken of as the vasa recta. The vasa 

 recta communicate with tubes which run at right angles, 

 but are still very minute. These last tubes are known as 

 the rete testes, which ultimately become external, and 

 then assume the name of the vasa efferentia. The vasa 

 efferentia end in numerous convolutions ; and in that 

 form constitute the epididymis, which at length leads to 

 the vas deferens. The testicle is white, firm, and externally 

 smooth. 



The vasa deferens, or excretory duct of the testes, joins the 

 spermatic cord, and proceeding with it into the pelvis, by 

 means of the abdominal rings, finally gains the lateral and 

 superior surface of the bladder, to terminate in the urethra, 

 either alongside or within the opening of the seminal vesicle. 

 The vesicula seminales are situated one on each side of the 

 neck of the bladder, immediately behind and contiguous to 

 the termination of the vas deferens : these membranous 

 sacs, which contain a peculiar mucous secretion, have large 

 excretory ducts, that terminate also in the urethra, close to 

 the opening of the vas deferens. The prostate glands are 

 irregular in their number: comparative anatomists quote, 

 sonfe two, some three, and others four prostatse, so inde- 

 terminate are their appearances. The lesser prostates, 

 or Cowper's glands, are two smaller glandular bodies, 



