42 8 The Test is 



part of the allantois which is to become the urinary bladder. This 

 duct will be either the vas deferens or the Fallopian tube. 



The descent of the testis soon begins. This 'descent' is partly- 

 due to the growth of the upper part of the 

 body being out of proportion to that of 

 the lower part, and partly to the influence 

 of the giibernaculum testis, a soft, conical 

 structure which lies between the peri- 

 toneum and the psoas. Its apex is con- 

 nected to the testis, whilst its base passes 

 through the inguinal region to a threefold 

 attachment. Each division is said to con- 

 tain striated muscular tissue. The inner 



p iece ns to the p. ubic crest ' the middie 



piece loses itself in the depths of the 

 scrotum, whilst the outermost is attached 

 to Poupart's ligament near the inguinal 

 canal. Thus, the connections of the gubernaculum are those of the adult 

 cremaster (p. 304) ; indeed, Curling believed that this fcetal structure 

 eventually becomes the cremaster. The piece of the gubernaculum 

 which is attached to Poupart's ligament is supposed to guide the testis 

 into the canal, the pubic piece to draw it through the external abdo- 

 minal ring, and the scrotal piece to complete the descent. 



The testis reaches the internal abdominal ring at about the seventh 

 month of fcetal life; during the eighth month it is working its way 

 along the inguinal canal, and at birth it has generally reached the 

 depths of the scrotum. 



Abnormalities. One or both testes may fail to reach the scrotum, 

 remaining within the abdomen or the inguinal canal, or wandering 

 into the groin or perineum. Beyond the limits of the deep layers of 

 the superficial fascia, beneath which they are placed, they cannot 

 stray. An inflamed testes in an unusual situation may be mistaken 

 for abscess. An undescended gland is likely to be of no physiological 

 value ; moreover, it is somewhat apt to be attacked with malignant 

 disease. 



Whilst within the abdomen the testis is covered in front by peri- 

 toneum, and the accompanying diagrams show how the gland takes a 

 serous covering in front of it down into the scrotum. The lower end 

 of the funicular process eventually becomes detached from the rest of 

 the peritoneal sac, and persists as the tunica vaginalis. The rest 

 of the funicular process dwindles into a slender fibrous cord. The 

 closure of the abdominal end of the serous process should occur about 

 birth. The tunica vaginalis covers the front and sides of the testes, 

 and is reflected from the epididymis to the scrotum ; the laminated 

 epithelium lining it ensures a moist and glistening surface, which 

 allows the sensitive gland to escape injury in forcible abduction of the 



