THE TESTICLES 



1025 



mis; but it leaves uncovered nearly the whole of the jiloi)\is minor and the internal 

 and posterior surfaces of the lx)dy of the epididymis, and it is in these situations 

 that an important vascular communication is estaldished between the gland and its 

 coverings. 



The parietal layer, continut)Us with the visceral layer at the posterior and inferior 

 parts of the testicle and at the point of reflexion from the spermatic cord, becomes 

 loosely attached to the internal spermatic fascia ]:»y means of a })rolongation f)f the 

 abdominal subperitoneal tissue. It contains a number of unstriped muscular fibres 

 running longitudinally and continuous with the internal cremaster. Under normal 

 conditions, the two serous layers are in contact, the serous fluid l)eing secreted only 

 in sufficient quantity to moisten tlie opposed surfaces. An undue increase of the 

 amount constitutes the disease known as vaginal hydrocele. 



Fig. 622.— The Left Testicle with Vessels and Duct. (After Sappey.) 



flnh 



Spermatic artery 



Spermatic veins 



Branch 0/ spermatic artery 



GLOBUS MAJOR OF EPIDIDYMIS 



HYDATID OF MORGAGN 



OUTER WALL OF BODY OF TESTIS 



VAS DEFERENS 



with deferential artery 



VAS DEFERENS 



DY OF EP;DIDYMIS 

 Digital fossa 



— Vtestls of epididymis 



GLOBUS MINOR 



The testicle is occasionally so rotated ujion its long axis that the epididymis 

 becomes turned towards the front of the scrotum. In this case, were a hydrocele 

 to occur, the sac would ju-oject posteriorly. The side to which a detached testicle 

 Ijelongs ma}' be distinguished by remembering that the ei>ididymis is attached 

 behind, and that the digital fossa of the tunica vaginalis lies on the outer side. 



In order to understand the relations of the organ to adjacent structures it is 

 necessary to learn something of the mechanism of its descent. The testicle is at first 

 an abdominal organ lying below the kidney and invested by a layer of peritoneum 

 (mesorchium ) which is firmly adherent to its surface in front and at the sides. It 

 is, moreover, connected l)y bundles of unstrii>ed nuiscular fil)res. the gubernaculum 

 testis, with the pillars of the external imruinal rinir and with the dartos at the 

 65 



