THE ABDOMINAL WALL 



243 



y.'fn 



tubes are coiled and convoluted to an extraordinary degree, 

 and the coils are surrounded and bound together by connective 

 tissue, which contains a large number of peculiar cells known 

 as the interstitial cells of the testicle. 



Approaching the mediastinum testis, the tubuli seminiferi 

 contorti join each other at acute angles and form a smaller 

 number of tubes, which finally become straight and consider- 

 ably reduced in diameter. 

 These are called the tubuli 

 seminiferi recti. They enter 

 the mediastinum and join the 

 rete testis. 



Dissection. Attempt to 

 unravel some of the tubuli of 

 the testis, under water, with 

 the aid of forceps and a probe. 

 It will not be possible, under 

 ordinary circumstances, to 

 open them out fully, but a 

 sufficiently good demonstra- 

 tion of their general arrange- 

 ment may be made. After- 

 wards the tubuli should be FIG. 107. Diagram illustrating the 

 removed from the lower part Structure of the Testis. (A. F. 

 of the testis, by the use of the 

 forceps, aided by a stream of 

 water. A good view of the 

 fibrous framework of the testis 

 will then be obtained. 



The dissector must next 

 endeavour to ascertain the 

 manner in which the secretion 

 of the testis passes from the 

 rete testis into the epididy- 

 mis. For that purpose the 

 upper part of the testis, with 



the attached epididymis, must be examined. Gently raise the 

 caput epididymidis from the surface of the testis, by dividing 

 the visceral part of the tunica vaginalis which binds them 

 together, and carefully break down the intervening connective 

 tissue. Under favourable circumstances the ductuli efferentes, 

 which pass from the rete testis to the tube of the epididymis, 

 may be seen. 



Structure of the Epididymis. The ductuli efferentes testis 

 are fifteen to twenty delicate ducts. They leave the upper 

 part of the rete testis, and pass into the caput epididymidis. 

 In the caput the ductuli efferentes become coiled and form 

 a series of small conical masses, called the lobuli epididymidis. 

 Ultimately the efferent ducts open into a single convoluted 

 ii 16 a 



Dixon. ) 



v.d. Ductus deferens. 

 g.ni' . Cauda epididymidis. 



c. Caput epididymidis. 

 c.v. Lobuli epididymidis. 

 v.e. Ductuli efferentes testis. 

 v.r. Tubuli seminiferi recti. 

 r.v. Rete testis. 

 s.t. Contorted seminiferous tubule. 



s. Septula testis. 



