4io 



ABDOMEN 



intervenes between them, and also by the investments which 

 are given to the cord by the abdominal wall. 



The external spermatic artery is a branch of the inferior 

 epigastric, and has already been seen entering the cremaster 

 muscle. The external spermatic nerve, a branch of the genito- 

 femoral nerve, has a similar destination. It has also been 



displayed in a previous stage 

 of the dissection. 



The internal spermatic 

 artery arises within the 

 abdomen from the front of 

 the aorta, it enters the cord 

 at the abdominal inguinal 

 ring, and proceeds to the 

 testis, into the posterior 

 border of which it sinks, 

 after dividing into several 

 smaller twigs. Tht pampini- 

 form veins issue from the 

 testis at its posterior border, 

 and, as they pass upwards, 

 they form, in the cord, a 

 bulky plexus, which is 

 termed the pampiniform 

 plexus. A single vessel, the 

 spermatic vein, issues from 

 this, and enters the abdomen 

 through the abdominal in- 



g. uinal & On the fi s ht 



side it pours its blood into 



the inferior vena cava ; on 

 the left side it joins the left renal vein. 



The ductus deferens (O.T. vas deferens\ the duct of the 

 testis, can always be distinguished by the hard, firm, cord- 

 like sensation which it gives when the spermatic cord is held 

 between the finger and thumb. It ascends along the posterior 

 part of the cord. At the abdominal inguinal ring, however, 

 it separates from the spermatic vessels, and lies to their 

 medial side; as it enters the abdomen it hooks round the 

 inferior epigastric artery. 



The artery to the ductus deferens is a small branch from a 

 superior vesical. It follows the duct to the testis. 



Artery to ductus 

 deferens 



nternal 



permatic artery 



Ductus deferens 



Pampiniform 

 plexus 



Caput 

 epididymis 



Digital fossa 



Body of epi- 

 didymis 



Testis 



Cauda 

 epididymis 



parts. (From Waldeyer, modified.) 



