596 



UTERUS AND ITS APPENDAGES. 



excretory duct of the Wolffian body (fgAQl, 

 e) for the male, the capability of conver- 

 sion into either sex exists at this time in 

 every individual. 



The division of sex begins to be anatomi- 

 cally discoverable by the development of one, 



Fig. 402. 



Adult testis and epididymis, anterior view. (After 



Kobelt.) 



a a, entire series of metamorphosed tubules of the 

 original Wolffian body ; b, remains of the upper set, 

 converted into the hydatid in the head of the epidi- 

 dymis; r, the middle set converted into the coni 

 vasculosi ; d, the lower set converted into the vasa 

 aberrantia ; e, excretory duct of the Wolffian bod}', 

 now the canal of the epididymis and vas deferens ; 

 /, bulb of the same, now a so-called hydatid ; h, duct 

 of Miiller, not destined to be developed in the male ; 

 i, terminal bulb of the same, now the hydatid of 

 Morgagni ; g, hydatiform swellings of the same in 

 the border of the epididymis ; /, generative gland, 

 now testis. 



and the stationary condition or disappearance 

 of the other of these ducts. From this point, 



therefore, the course which each of these 

 organs takes, is different for either sex. The 

 male Wolffian body never disappears in all 

 its parts, but is converted into the epididy- 

 mis in such a manner that the middle line of 

 cascal tubes (fig. 401. c c) is transformed into 

 the 18 20 coni vasculosi (fig. 402. c) ; while 

 their straight and open ends, as vasa efferen- 

 tia, establish a communication with the rete 

 vasculosum testis. The upper blind pouches 

 (figAQ\.a y b) and the bulb (/) of the excre- 

 tory duct disappear, or become converted 

 into the hydatids (fig. 402. b, /) upon the 

 head of the epididymis, while the inferior 

 pouches (fig. 401. d) disappear in part, and in 

 part become elongated and tortuous, without 

 forming any connection with the testis. These 

 constitute the hitherto enigmatical vasa aber- 

 rantia of Haller (fig. 402. d). 



The excretory duct of the Wolffian body 

 (fig. 401. e) is converted into the canal of 

 the epididymis, (fig. 402. e), and ultimately 

 into the vas deferens, and whilst the retro- 

 gression and final obliteration of the terminal 

 part of this duct takes place normally in the 

 female, (fig. 403. e} it constitutes a patho- 

 logical condition when it occurs in the male. 

 The terminal bulb (fig. 401. i) of the duct of 

 Miiller is converted into the hydatid of Mor- 

 gagni (fig. 402. i), whilst its inferior por- 

 tion (fig. 401. h) still exists, at a later 

 period in the anterior border of the epidi- 

 dymis (fig. 402. /z). 



Tracing the development of the corre- 

 sponding structures from the same point of 

 departure as in the male, we find that in the 

 female, also, the Wolffian body never dis- 

 appears entirely, but is employed in the for- 

 mation of the parovarium. Its middle blind 



Fig. 403. 



Adult parovarium, ovary, and Fallopian tube. (After Kobelt.} 



a a, entire series of tubules of the original Wolffian body ; b, remains of the upper set, which occasionally 

 become distended by collections of fluid, and constitute one form of dropsy of the broad ligament ; c, middle 

 set of tubules forming the principal part of the parovarium ; d, lower set atrophied, answering to the vasa 

 aberrantia in the male ; e, atrophied remains of the excretory duct of the Wolffian body ; /, terminal bulb 

 of the same, converted here into the hydatid often seen attached to the broad ligament ; h, the former 

 duct of Miiller, now Fallopian tube, with its infundibulum, from which hangs i, the terminal bulb, now 

 converted into a pedunculated hydatid ; /, generative gland, now the ovary. 



These three last figures are from Kobelt, whose views they illustrate. The letters refer to correspond- 

 ing parts in each. 



