CHAPTER XXIX. 



THE EXTERNAL GENERATIVE ORGANS OF THE MALE AND 

 FEMALE, WITH THEIR GLANDULAR APPENDAGES. 



BY E. KLEIN. 



A. MALE ORGANS. 



I. VAS DEFERENS. The vas deferens is a structure contain- 

 ing a considerable quantity of muscular tissue, and is essen- 

 tially analogous in its structure to the excretory ducts of the 

 larger glands. It consists of a mucous membrane, a muscular 

 tunic, and an external loose investment of connective tissue, 

 the tunica adventitia. 



The internal surface of the mucous membrane is lined with 

 an epithelium that offers in the adult, and still more in the 

 newly born child, manifold varieties. At the commencement 

 of the vas deferens of the adult it consists for the most part 

 of a single layer of ciliated columnar cells. The indivi- 

 dual cells are either conical or cylindrical, about 0'03 of a 

 millimeter in length, with a roundish or oblong nucleus, con- 

 taining distinct nucleoli ; occasionally fusiform cells are found 

 interspersed amongst the conical, so that a laminated columnar 

 epithelium results. The conical cells are furnished with very 

 short fine cilia, both where the epithelium is arranged in only 

 a single layer, and where it is laminated. 



The point at which the most superficial cells lose their cilia 

 varies, and is not the same for . the whole circumference of the 

 tube ; according to my observation, however, no such cells can 

 ever be found at a distance of four centimeters (If inch) above 

 the epididymis. 



