350 SPLAI^CKNOLOGY. 



EPIDIDYMIS. 



The epididymis is an elongated body extending along the 

 upper border of the testis, and covered by a continuation of tLo 

 tunica vaginalis propria. It consists of a body, a head or gio}n.:.'i 

 major, and a tail or globus minor. The head, situated ante- 

 riorly, is closely adherent to the testicle through the vasa efferentia. 

 The body is free, and curved to the shape of the testicle, to 

 which the head is attached. The globus minor, posteriorly 

 placed, is more free than the rest. The vasa eflTerentifv, fonning 

 the coni vasculosi, enter the globus major, and successively join 

 at irregular distances to form the canal of the epididym^is, the 

 convolutions of the latter forming the body and globus minor. 

 The tubes join and become larger, until they form a single canal, 

 the vas deferens, of which the epididymis may be regarded as 

 the origin. 



VAS DEFERENS. 



This is a tube with firm solid walls, which, after leaving the 

 globus minor, ascends the back of the spermatic cord to tha 

 iDguinal canal. On passing through the internal abdominal ring, 

 the vas deferens leaves the cord and enters the pelvis, passing to 

 the antero- lateral aspect of the bladder, where the obliterated 

 umbilical artery winds round it; it then becomes dilated, form- 

 ing the bulbous portion ; it is directed backwards and inwards 

 towards the neck of the bladder ; here it is joined by the duct gf 

 the vesicula seminalis, the two forming the ejaculatory duct. 

 The vas deferens thus terminates ^bout the base of the prostate 

 gland. A long narrow tube, the vasculum aberrans, is some- 

 times found leaving the lower part of the canal of the epididymis, 

 extending a short way up the back of the testis, between it bxA 

 the body of the epididjnnis, and terminating in a csecal extrem- 

 ity. The vas deferens consists of three coats^ — ^an external one of 

 connective tissue, a middle muscular and elastic, and an internal 

 mucous coat, lined chiefly with columnar epithelium. 



VESICULA SEMINALES. 



The vesiculae seminales are two lobulated, pear-shaped, glandu- 

 lar pouches, situated on each side of the postero-superior aspect 

 of the bladder, and between it and the rectum. Their larger 



