ACTION OF THE MALE. 



443 



Fig. 136. 



cavity ; whence it passes out by openings that lead directly to the ex- 

 terior. The Testis in Man is formed, in every essential particular, upon 

 the plan of the ordinary Glands. It consists of several distinct lobules, 

 separated by processes of the fibrous envelope, or 

 tunica albuginea, which pass down between them ; 

 and each lobule consists of a mass of convoluted 

 tubuli seminiferi, through which blood-vessels are 

 minutely distributed. The diameter of these tubuli 

 is tolerably uniform ; being, when they are not 

 over-distended, from l-195th to l-170th of an inch. 

 They form frequent anastomoses with each other ; 

 and on this account it is difficult to trace out their 

 free or csecal extremities. The tubuli of each testis 

 discharge their contents into an efferent duct, the 

 Vas deferens ; and by this the product is conveyed 

 into the Vesiculi seminalis on each side, which, like 

 the gall-bladder and urinary bladder, serves to store 

 up the secretion until the proper time arrives for 

 discharging it. The product of the action of the 

 Testis consists of a fluid, through which the Sper- 

 matozoa are diffused ; these last bodies being usually 

 set free by the rupture of the seminal cells, before 

 they leave the tubuli of the testis. It is difficult to Anatomy of the Testis : 

 determine the precise characters of the fluid portion * ^ e m t SSinuS l teJS! 

 of the secretion ; as this is mingled with other se- 3,' s. The Mmii testis. 4, 4. 



, / T ii^pii-r* i j T i 11* The vasa recta. 5. The rete 



cretions (such as that of the Prostate gland, and of testis. e. The vasa efferent, 



the mucous lining of the Vesiculse seminales and 



spermatic ducts,) before it is emitted. And an 



exact analysis is not of much consequence ; since epididymis. s. The body of 



T T L . , .1 > . the epididymis. 9. The globus 



there can be no doubt that the peculiar powers ot minor of the epididymis. 10. 

 the fluid depend upon the Spermatozoa. It may vLUumSans. u> The 

 be stated, however, that the Spermatic fluid has 

 an alkaline reaction, and that it contains albumen, together with a 

 peculiar animal principle termed Spermatine ; and that it also includes 

 saline matter, consisting chiefly of the muriates and phosphates, espe- 

 cially the latter, which form crystals when the fluid has stood for some 

 little time. 



787. The Spermatozoa, or minute filamentous oodies set free by the 

 rupture of the spermatic cells, are distinguished by their power of 

 spontaneous movement, which occasioned them to be long regarded as 

 proper Animalcules. It is now clear, however, from the history of their 

 development, as well as from other considerations, that they cannot be 

 justly regarded in this light ; and that they are analogous to the repro- 

 ductive particles of Plants, which, in many cases, exhibit a spontaneous 

 motion of extraordinary activity, after they have been set free from the 

 parent structure. The Human Spermatozoon consists of a little oval 

 flattened "body," from the l-600th to the l-SOOth of a line in length ; 

 from which proceeds a filiform " tail," gradually tapering to a very fine 

 point, of l-50th or at most l-40th of a line in length. The whole is 

 perfectly transparent ; and nothing that can be called structure can be 



