68 



Male Organs of Generation. 



Bloodvessels 

 fas deferent 



Testiculus 



1). 



407. a. b. c. Diagrammatic View of tlic Descensus 



testiculi. 



The testis is developed in the embryo in the abdominal cavity, 

 and is covered by peritoneum, with the exception of the posterior wall 

 where the Vas deferens and the bloodvessels enter and leave ; it is supported 

 in its passage from the abdomen into the scrotum by a duplicature of 

 the peritoneum, called the MesorcJiium. In the mesorchium a conical-shaped 

 cord, the Gubernaculum testis s. Hunter i, is attached to the testicle and the 

 bottom of the scrotum ; it is surrounded by striped muscular fibres and 

 is divided below into three processes. By a shortening of this cord the 

 testicle gradually passes through the inguinal canal into the scrotum, 

 a small pouch of peritoneum preceding the testis in its course through 

 the canal; this pouch is called Processus vaginalis peritonei ; the blood- 

 vessels and Vas deferens are not contained in it. The cavity of the Processus 

 vaginalis closes after birth from the inguinal canal towards the testicle, and 

 only a thin connective tissue cord, called the Lt'gula, remains ; at the 

 testicle and a part of the epididymis the cavity remains pervious, and 

 the serous covering, which entirely surrounds the testicle constitutes the 

 Tunica vaginalis propria testis. 



The spermatic cord, Funiculus spermattcus, is the bundle of 

 vessels and nerves, which supports the testicle, and is invested, as is also 

 the testis, by the Tunica vaginalis communis ; this is a continuation of the 

 Fascia transversa abdommis and is also called i n f u n d i b u 1 i f o r m f a s c i a ; 

 on its outer surface the bundles of the c remaster muscle lie. 



