THETESTES. 217 



their orifices may likewise be demonstrated by compress- 

 ing the vesiculae seminales. 



The membranous urethra is that portion between the 

 prostate and the bulb; it passes through the triangular 

 ligament, and is less than an inch in length. It is sur- 

 rounded by areolar tissue and veins, and by the compressor 

 urethra?, or Guthrie's muscle. 



The spongy portion of the urethra, surrounded by the 

 erectile tissue of the corpus spongiosum, extends from the 

 bulb to the meatus. In the bulb, the urethra forms a dila- 

 tation, and at this point may be found the two orifices of 

 the ducts of Cowper's glands ; a second dilatation occurs 

 about an inch from the meatus, and is called the fossa 

 namcularis. The mucous membrane of the urethra is thin 

 and delicate, and is sometimes thrown into longitudinal 

 folds; it has numerous follicular orifices, one of which, in 

 the fossa navicularis, is of large size, and is called the 

 lacuna magna. 



THE TESTES. 



The testes are contained in an envelope called the scro- 

 tum. They may, however, remain in the abdomen, or be 

 arrested in the inguinal canal, instead of descending from 

 the lumbar region to the scrotum, as the}^ should at the 

 close of intra-uterine life. In such cases, they are usually 

 imperfect or small, "contrary to an old authority," says 

 John Bell; "it having been said, Hhat the testicles are 

 seated externally for chastity's sake; for such live wights 

 as have their stones hid within their body are very lecher- 

 ous, do often couple, and get many young ones.' " 



The SCROTUM is composed of a tegumentary covering, 

 and a fascia continuous with the superficial fascia of the 

 abdomen and perineum; it is divided into two compart- 

 ments by a septum, the position of which is indicated ex- 

 ternally by a raphe continued along the under side of the 

 penis and into the perineum. Beneath the integument is a 

 reddish tissue, called the dartos, composed of non-striated 

 muscular fibres, and in which resides the contractile power 

 belonging to the scrotum. The testicle lies within a serous 

 membrane, derived from the peritoneum of the abdomen, 

 which was pushed before it in its descent during foetal life; 

 the connection between the portion of membrane envelop- 

 ing the testicle and the peritoneum of the general cavity 

 19 



