THE GENITAL OBGANS OF THE MALE. 



969 



Fi?. 522. 



in almost the same manner as the bladder by the peritoneum, which at tliis 

 point furnishes a very small triangular fraenum (the recto-vesical fold) that 

 unites the two vesiculse. The posterior extremity tapers to a narrow neck or 

 gullet, which passes beneath the prostate gland, and joins at a very acute 

 angle the terminal extremity of the vas deferens, to constitute the ejaculatory 

 duct. 



The walls of this pouch are composed of three membranes : an internal 

 mucous, a middle muscular, and an external 

 fibrous. The mucoiis layer is contnmous with 

 that of the ejaculatory ducts, and is very thin, 

 delicate, and follicular. It shows numerous 

 folds, which disappear with distension of the 

 duct. The middle Uujer evidently belongs to the 

 class of muscular membranes. At the bottom of 

 its cul-de-sac it gives off several fasciculi, which 

 radiate on the external surface of the peritoneum. 

 (In addition to these, the vesicular and vasa 

 deferentia have a muscular covering with fibres 

 arranged in longitudinal and transverse direc- 

 tion, the latter being the most superficial. This 

 muscular layer, being continuous over the vesi- 

 cular seminales and vas deferens, when it contracts 

 will compress and shorten these : consequently, 

 it has been named the compressor resiculce et ductus 

 seminalis. The fibrous coat of the vesiculae is 

 merely condensed connective tissue.) The mucus 

 and muscular coats are supplied with blood by 

 the vesico-prostatic artery {inferior vesical) ; their 

 nerves are derived from the pelvic plexus. 



The richness in glands of the mucous mem- 

 brane of the vesiculae seminales, has led several 

 anatomists to consider them as organs of secre- 

 tion, and not as reservoirs for the semen. But 

 the large cavity that each forms, appears to 

 demonstrate that they serve as reservoirs and 

 secretory organs at the same time. Their fluid 

 is added to the semen, as is the secretion of the 

 prostate and Cowper's glands. 



The ejaculatory duct is very short, and succeeds 

 the narrow canal of the vesicula after the latter 

 opens into the vas deferens. The two ducts pass 

 between the prostate gland and urethra, and, 

 after a brief course, terminate in the latter, on 

 the side of the verumontanum — a tubercle which 

 will be noticed presently. 



Near to, and in front of this tubercle, is a third very small orifice — the open- 

 ing of the third pouch included between the serous duplicatures joining the vasa 

 deferentia. (This is the sinus pocularis or utriculus prostatio, the protometra, or 

 vesicula seminalis tertia or media of Ourlt.) Improperly designated the third 

 vesicular, or masculine uterus (Weber), this pouch (sometimes double) secretes a 



SUPERIOR VIEW OF THE PELVIC POR- 

 TION OF THE VASA DEFERENTIA, 

 VESICULA SEMINALES. PROSTATE 

 GLAND, cowper's GLANDS, AND THE 

 INTRA-PELVIC PORTION OF THE 

 URETHRA. 



1, Left vas deferens; 1', its pelvic 

 dilatation; 2, 2, the same on the 

 right side; 3, 4, vesiculse seminales; 

 5, the third vesicula; 6, serous 

 layer uniting the vasa deferentia; 

 7, that comprised between the two 

 vesiculae ; 8, prostate gland ; 9, 

 bladder seen through the seroi.s 

 folil of the vasa deferentia; 10, 

 membranous or intra-pelvic portion 

 of the urethral canal, covered by 

 Wilson's muscle; 11, 11. Cowper's 

 glands enveloped by that muscle ; 



12, 12, ischio-cavernosus muscle; 



13, accelerator urinae muscle. 



