FEMALE GROANS OF GENERATION. 661 



The separation of the tunica vaginalis from the peritoneum is 

 usually completed in the human subject before birth. But some- 

 times it fails to take place at the proper time, and the intestine is 

 then apt to protrude into the scrotum, in front of the spermatic 

 cord, giving rise, in this way, to a congenital inguinal hernia. (Fig. 

 251.) The parts implicated, however, in this malformation, have 

 still, as in the case of congenital umbili- 

 cal hernia, a tendency to unite with each Fig. 251. 

 other and obliterate the unnatural open- 

 ing; and if the intestine be retained by 

 pressure in the cavity of the abdomen, 

 cicatrization usually takes place at the 

 inguinal canal, and a cure is effected. 



The descent of the testicle, above de- 

 scribed, is not accomplished by the forci- 

 ble traction of the muscular fibres of the 

 gubernaculum, as has been described by 



Certain Writers, but by a Simple prOCeSS C ox G KMT Ail* GTTT. VAT, HKR- 

 f> .1^1- i T /v KIA. 1. Testicle. 2,2,2. lutes- 



of growth taking place in different parts, tiue . 

 in different directions, at successive 



periods of foetal life. The gubernaculum, accordingly, has no 

 proper function as a muscular organ, in the human subject, but is 

 merely the anatomical vestige, or analogue, of a corresponding 

 muscle in certain of the lower animals, where it has really an 

 important function to perform. For in them, as we have already 

 mentioned, both the gubernaculum and the cremaster remain fully 

 developed in the adult condition, and are then employed to elevate 

 and depress the testicle, by the alternate contraction of their mus- 

 cular fibres. 



Female Organs of Generation. At an early period, as we have 

 mentioned above, the ovaries have the same external appearance, 

 and occupy the same position in the abdomen, as the testicles in the 

 opposite sex. The descent of the ovaries also takes place, to a great 

 extent, in the same manner with the descent of the testicles. When. 

 in the early part of this descent, they have reached the level of the 

 lower edge of the kidneys, a cord, analogous to the gubernaculum, 

 may be seen proceeding from their lower extremity, crossing the 

 efferent duct on each side, and passing downward, to be attached 

 to the subcutaneous tissues at the situation of the inguinal ring. 

 That part of the duct situated outside the crossing of this cord, 

 becomes afterward convoluted, and is converted into the Fallopian 



