52 ' Hounds 



(/) The Generative Organs. — The male generative 

 organs consist of the testicles and spermatic cord, 

 and the penis. Each testicle is enclosed in the 

 scrotum or bag, and their function is to secrete the 

 fertilizing element — a viscid fluid. The male organ 

 has a bulbous swelling that becomes engorged with 

 blood during copulation, thus temporarily uniting 

 the sexes at the breeding season. The os penis is 

 embedded in the substance of the organ, and the 

 urinary conduit traverses its length. 



The female genital apparatus comprises the right 

 and left ovary and their ducts — the fallopian tubes, 

 which serve to convey the ripe ova (during oestrum) 

 to the uterus or womb for contact with the male 

 element. The ovaries rest just behind the kidneys, 

 and are occasionally the seat of disease; if so, the 

 animal will probably be sterile. 



Their removal, to prevent bitches from breeding, 

 is frequently resorted to, constituting the operation 

 known as spaying (oophorectomy). The uterus, 

 vagina, vulva and mammary glands (teats) are the 

 remaining generative organs. 



The uterus has a right and left comua or horn, 

 and a body, gestation being multiparous. The vagina 

 is the passage connecting the uterus and the vulva 

 or outer female organ. 



Most of the internal generative apparatus (uterus 

 and vagina) occupies the pelvic cavity. 



