ABDOMINAL WALL 



seminiferous tubules. Two or more occupy each compart- 

 ment, and constitute what is called a testicular lobule. In 

 this they are closely packed and are coiled and convoluted 

 to an extraordinary degree. The dissector should now 

 endeavour to unravel some of these tubuli seminiferi under 

 water. It will be impossible to open them out in their whole 

 length, but a sufficiently good demonstration may be obtained 

 to make their general arrange- 

 ment apparent. Each tube 

 averages two feet in length. 



Approaching the media- 

 stinum testis the tubuli semin- 

 iferi contorti join each other at 

 acute angles and form a smaller 

 number of tubes, which finally 

 become straight and consider- 

 ably reduced in diameter. 

 These are called the tubuli 

 seminiferi recti. They enter the 

 mediastinum and join the rete 



testis. FIG. 156. Diagram illustrating the 



Structure of the Testis. (A. F. 

 Dixon.) 



v.d. Ductus deferens. 

 .in'. Cauda epididymidis. 



c. Caput epididymidis. 

 c.7>. Coni vasculosi. 

 v.e. Ductuli efferentia testis. 

 7>.r. Tubuli seminiferi recti. 

 r.v. Rete testis. 

 s.t. Contorted seminiferous tubule. 



s. Septula testis. 



Dissection. The tubuli seminiferi 

 contorti should now be removed from 

 the lower part of the testis. This 

 can be done with the forceps under a 

 stream of water. A good view is 

 then obtained of the fibrous frame- 

 work of the testicle. The strength 

 of the tunica albuginea becomes 

 evident, whilst the mediastinum testis 

 and the septules which proceed from 

 it are seen to great advantage. 



The dissector must next endeavour to ascertain the manner in which 

 the secretion of the testis passes from the rete testis into the epididymis. 

 For this purpose the upper part of the testis with the attached epididymis 

 must be examined. Gently raise the caput epididymidis from the surface 

 of the body of the testis by dividing the visceral part of the tunica 

 vaginalis which binds them together, and carefully break down the 

 intervening connective tissue. Under favourable circumstances the diictuh 

 efferentes may be seen. 



Structure of the Epididymis. The ductuli efferentes testis 

 are fifteen to twenty delicate ducts which leave the upper 

 part of the rete testis, pierce the tunica albuginea, and 

 pass into the caput epididymidis. In the caput the vasa 

 efferentia become coiled and form a series of small conical 



