THE SPERMATIC CORD 377 



course, the spermatic cord is covered only by skin and 

 superficial fascia and it can be grasped between the fingers 

 and thumb. When this is done, no difficulty is experienced 

 in identifying the ductus deferens, for since its muscular 

 wall is very thick in proportion to its lumen, it feels like a 

 solid piece of whip-cord. 



The subcutaneous inguinal (external abdominal) ring is a 

 gap in the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle (p. 162), 

 situated above the lateral part of the pubic crest and the medial 

 extremity of the inguinal ligament (of Poupart). It is triangular 

 in outline, the apex being directed upwards and laterally. The 

 size of the ring can be determined by the finger. In order that 

 this may be done, the skin of the scrotum must be invaginated 

 and the finger carried upwards over the front of the pubis. 

 The pubic crest and tubercle having been identified, the 

 finger must then be pressed backwards, when its tip will be 

 found to engage in the subcutaneous inguinal ring. If, after 

 the pubic crest is reached, the finger is carried upwards, it 

 lies between the superficial fascia of the abdominal wall and 

 the external oblique aponeurosis and it can be moved about 

 freely in this stratum. 



After entering the subcutaneous inguinal ring, the spermatic 

 cord passes laterally and slightly upwards and backwards in 

 the inguinal canal till it reaches the abdominal inguinal (int. 

 abd.) ring, where its constituent parts separate. The ductus 

 (vas) deferens descends into the pelvis, crosses the terminal 

 part of the ureter and then descends on the posterior aspect 

 of the bladder, in contact with the duct of the opposite side. 

 As it lies in this situation, it has the seminal vesicle to its 

 lateral side. The vesicle is a sacculated diverticulum, which not 

 only acts as a reservoir for the seminal fluid but also possesses 

 a secretion of its own. Inferiorly the vesicle narrows to form a 

 duct, which opens into the ductus deferens at the upper border 

 of the prostate (Fig. 132). In this way, the ejaculatory duct 

 is formed, and it passes downwards and forwards through the 

 prostate to open into the prostatic part of the urethra. 



