THE TESTIS AND EPIDIDYMIS 



1255 



portion of the epididymis, being reflected from the inferior and posterior parts of 

 the latter to be continuous with the parietal layer. Toward the upper part of the 

 lateral surface of the testis it is folded in between that structure and the epididy- 

 mis, forming a well-marked pocket, the sinus epididymidis (digital fossa) (fig. 

 1017), whose upper and lower lips form what are termed the ligamenta epididymidis. 



Vessels and nerves. — The skin and dartos of the scrotum are supplied partly by the peri- 

 neal branch of the internal pudendal artery and partly by the external pudendal branches of 

 the femoral. The deeper layers are supplied by the spermatic branch of the inferior epigastric. 

 The veins accompany the arteries, the external pudendals opening into the internal saphenous 

 vein near its termination. The lymphatics terminate in the more medial inguinal nodes. 

 Several nerves take part in the supply of the scrotum. The external spermatic branch of the 

 genito-femoral gives sensory branches to the anterior and lateral surfaces and also supplies 

 the external cremaster muscle; the posterior surface is supplied by the perineal branch of the 

 pudendal nerve; and the inferior surface by the perineal branches of the posterior femoral 



Fig. 1017. — The Left Testis with Vessels and Duct. (After Sappey.) 



Internal spermatic artery 



Internal spermatic veins- 



Branch of spermatic artery 



Head of epididymis 



Appendix testis 



Lateral wall of body of testis 



Ductus deferens with 

 deferential artery 



Vein 



Ductus deferens 



Body of epididymis 

 77 Sinus epididymidis 



Vessels of epididymis 

 Tail of epididymis 



cutaneous. The anterior aspect of the scrotum is also supplied by anterior scrotal branches 

 of the ilio-inguinal. The non-striped musculature is probably supplied by the internal 

 spermatic nerve from the hypogastric plexus. 



Hernia. — The communication of the tunica vaginalis propria with the abdominal perito- 

 neum is usually obhterated within a few days after birth, but sometimes the process of oblitera- 

 tion is more or less incomplete. If the communication remains open there is a free passage 

 for a loop of the intestine to enter the cavity of the tunica vaginahs, such a condition consti- 

 tuting what is known as the congenital variety of inguinal hernia. If the communication be 

 interrupted only at the upper part of the original sac, so that the cavity of the tunica vagin- 

 alis propria extends a considerable distance up the spermatic cord a hernia, passing through 

 the inguinal canal, may invaginate the upper part of the tunica vaginalis into the lower, pro- 

 ducing what is termed the encysted variety of hernia. Or if, finally, the obliteration of the 

 communication begins in the neighbourhood of the testis, a funnel-shaped prolongation of the 

 'peritoneal cavity may extend downward into the spermatic cord, and hernia into this con- 

 stitutes the variety kaowTi as hernia into the funicular process. 



The testis and epididymis. — The testes (fig. 1017) are the essential niale organs 

 of reproduction and are contained within the scrotum. They are two in number, 



