ON THE ANATOMY OF THE WEDDELL SEAL. 65 



other hand, on the rectal or pelvic aspect of the urethra, and in relation to the urethral 

 crest, there was a mesial longitudinal thickening of firm consistence, from 5-6 mm. in 

 length. Into the hinder end of this denser part the vasa deferentia entered. The 

 pelvic portion of the urethra was therefore not surrounded by visible prostatic tissue at 

 its vesical end, and the prostatic tissue was not prolonged in relation to the urethra as 

 far as the sub-pubic pelvic wall, because, whereas the prostate was only from 5-6 mm. 

 in length, the pelvic urethra measured from 35-40 mm. long. No doubt the extreme 

 youth of the animal accounts for the primitive condition of the prostate, but it is 

 interesting to note that the part readily recognisable is the mesial longitudinal lobe. 

 A portion of the prostatic part of the urethra, along with the surrounding tissue, was 

 prepared for microscopic examination. Definite glandular prostatic tissue was revealed 

 in relation to the pubic and lateral aspects of the urethra. On the rectal aspect of the 

 urethra dense fibrous tissue was displayed. The two vasa deferentia were visible, each 

 quite distinct from the other, so that their close proximity and apparent fusion previous 

 to their entering the prostate on its rectal aspect was not a real fusion. The urethral 

 crest presented the section faces of the bifurcated end of the uterus masculinus 

 (Miillerian ducts). 



Each testis was lodged in its own peritoneal pouch, which was situated to the outer 

 side of the pubic body, in the depression between the pubis and the head of the tibia. 

 These pouches were completely separated from each other by the keel-like projection 

 of the pubic symphysis, and thus they did not form any object comparable to a 

 scrotum. The testes had descended through the abdominal wall on the ventral aspect 

 of Poupart's ligament, i.e. through the inguinal canal, and not through the crural canal, 

 notwithstanding the novel position occupied by the testis in relation to the limb as a 

 whole. The tunica vaginalis testis was in open communication with the sac or cavity 

 of the abdominal peritoneum, and thus the whole condition might fairly be said to 

 resemble two imperfectly descended testes, although in this case there was no scrotum 

 into which they could have descended, nor was it possible for them to descend any 

 farther. Each testis was considerably flattened, and measured 25 mm. long by 14 mm. 

 wide. 



No hydatids of Morgagni were visible. The epididymis presented a globus major 

 and a globus minor. It did not lie close to the testis, but was supported by a mesentery, 

 which at its deepest measured 10 mm. The vas deferens was similarly supported, and 

 therefore it presented itself clear from the epididymis at the distal end of the testis, 

 instead of lying close to it as far as the proximal end of the testis, as in man. 



The vas entered the inguinal canal in the usual way and crossed the iliac fossa, 

 running superficial to the external iliac vessels and the hypogastric artery. Thereafter 

 it hooked round the hypogastric artery, and, passing to its mesial side, it proceeded 

 backwards, i.e. tailwards, towards the base of the urinary bladder, taking its place to the 

 mesial side of the ureter on its course. As the vas approached the proximal or pelvic 

 end of the prostate gland it came into such close contact with its fellow of the opposite 



(ROY. soc. EDIK. TRANS., VOL. XLVIII., 193.) 



