236 ABDOMEN 



The orifice of communication between the processus 

 vaginalis and the peritoneal cavity is closed usually before 

 birth ; and the Cavity of the upper portion of the process, 

 from the abdominal inguinal ring to the persistent tunica 

 vaginalis, is generally obliterated during the first month of 

 extra-uterine life. 



The cause of the descent of the processus vaginalis and 

 the testis is still a subject of dispute. It has been suggested: 



(1) that it is due to different growth energy in adjacent parts; 



(2) to traction from below, produced by a musculo-fibrous 

 cord, the gubernaculum of the testis, which grows through the 

 inguinal part of the abdominal wall and is attached to the 

 interior of the scrotum, whilst, above, it is attached to the 

 testis and the adjacent peritoneum ; (3) to the action of intra- 

 abdominal pressure, tending to displace the testis downwards. 



Funiculus Spermaticus. The spermatic cord is formed 

 by the association together of certain blood-vessels, nerves, 

 and lymph vessels, along with the ductus deferens, all of which 

 are proceeding to or passing from the testis. The structures 

 come together at the abdominal inguinal ring, and that 

 may be taken as the point at which the cord begins. The 

 cord has already been traced in its course through the inguinal 

 canal, and has been observed to issue from the canal through 

 the subcutaneous inguinal ring. It is now seen as it lies 

 within the scrotum suspending the testis. 



Constituent Parts of the Spermatic Cord. The following 

 are the structures which form the spermatic cord : 



1. The ductus deferens (O.T. vas deferens). 



f f The internal spermatic. 



, J Arteries. \ The external spermatic. 



2. Blood-vessels. \ \ The artery to the ductus deferens. 



IVeins. The pampiniform plexus of veins. 



3. Lymph vessels. 



L NPI-VPS / External spermatic. 

 ' es ' \Sympathetictwigs. 

 5. A fibrous strand. 



The constituent parts are all held together by loose areolar 

 tissue which intervenes between them, and also by the invest- 

 ments which are given to the cord by the abdominal wall. 



Dissection. The dissection of the sheaths and the constituent 

 parts of the extra-abdominal part of the spermatic cord is best 

 done under water. Divide the cord at the abdominal inguinal 

 ring ; place the cord and the testicle with their coverings in a 

 cork-lined tray ; fasten the testicle and the cord to the cork 



