GENERATIVE SYSTEM. 297 



urethra. Leaving the bulb, the urethra suddenly curves down- 

 ward, and shortly after turns sharply forward, passing under the 

 ischial arch — the tuberosities bounding it laterally — at which 

 place it is joined by the crura and subsequently surmounted bv 

 the corpora cavernosa. At the extremity of the penis the canal 

 is enveloped in the ghms, terminating in the centre of the front 

 of that body — within a prolapsus of membrane covered with a 

 reflection of fine skin — by an open orifice, which is insulated 

 from the glans by the fossa running around it. In turning round 

 the ischial arch, the urethra has extensive cellular attachments 

 to the bone ; but it is principally retained at its curvature by the 

 suspensory ligaments of the penis. The length of the urethra is 

 nearly two feet. It is a canal also of considerable caliber, so that 

 I can with facility introduce the handle of the scaljjel into the 

 orifice, though that is the smallest part ; for, after it has passed 

 the bulb, it pretty regularly diminishes in caliber all the way to 

 the orifice : the canal at the curvature measuring, when distended 

 with wax, four inches in circumference ; near the oiifice, not 

 more than txvo. 



The interior of the canal exhibits a smooth, polished, lubri- 

 cated surface, having a pale blush upon it. In structure it does 

 not materially differ fiom other mucous membranes, unless it be 

 that its follicles are larger and more numerous, and that their 

 orifices are called lacunce. It is continuous, and appears to be 

 one and the same texture with the mucous membrane of the 

 bladder. About an inch and a half from the neck of that viscus, 

 within the membranous part of the canal, is a little eminence 

 named the venonontanum or caput galinagiuis, at whose root open 

 the ejaculatory ducts : the use of this tubercle (which I believe 

 has not been noticed) appears to me to be. to perform the office 

 of a valve to the orifices of these ducts, preventing any influx 

 of the urethral fluids. Upon either side of it are many small 

 perforations through the membrane : these are the excretory 

 openings of the ducts of the great prostate. A little in the 

 rear of the verumontanum are several small papillary emi- 

 nences, perforated through their centres, and longitudinally 

 ranged in two distinct sets: these are the openings throu^'ii 

 which the ducts of the lesser prostates discharge their secretion. 



The bulb of the uretlna is a longitudinal prominence, begin- 

 ning immediately behind the lesser prostates, and proceed- 

 ing with the canal around its curvature; not indeed ending- 

 there, for it may be traced on, though considerably shrunk in 

 volume, even to the glans penis : the continuation of it being 

 the part corresponding to the corpus spongiosum in human ana- 

 Q rj 



