NKW M Al l.olMI .\(;A. 187 



arises from two separatc'<l fiindainents in the embryo, 

 which subseciueiitly unite. Kramer states tliat since 

 tlie secreting cells are arranged around two tubes, the 

 vasa deferentia, the organ has the appearance of being 

 composed of two closely united gland-, and that a sep- 

 arating wall is actually present. Grosse (1885) disagrees 

 with Kramer and regards the structure as consisting of 

 two bladder-like enlargements of the ductus ejaculato- 

 rius, which serve to retain the spermatozoa as they 

 come from the testes until sent to the exterior by the 

 contraction of the vesicle. According to him, accumu- 

 lations of spermatozoa are to be found in the upper part 

 of the organ. He states also that a secreting power 

 cannot be denied to the cells forming the wall. The 

 walls are thick and have a glandular appearance, but, 

 other than this, proof of their secreting function appears 

 to be absent. 



The embryologieal investigations of Nusbaum, if 

 correct, show clearly the relation of the vesicula semi- 

 nalis to the adjacent parts. As has been shown, the 

 vesicula generally presents a four-lobed appearance, 

 being divided by three longitudinal constrictions of 

 which the median one is the most constant and the 

 best marked. According to Nusbaum the vasa defer- 

 entia unite with the fundaments of the rei)roductive 

 organs derived from the epiblast. The latter then 

 become each produced into two lobes at tluMr anterior 

 ends before they fuse with each other. Then, when 

 they unite, there is produced a structure having a four- 

 lobed anterior end to which the vasa deferentia are 

 attached, and an undivided posterior part. The former 

 becomes the vesicula seininalis and the latter by elon- 

 gation the ductus ejaculatorius. 



