THE ACCESSORY REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS 253 



These are the glands of Bartholini or Duverney. Their ducts open 

 oub on to the vulva (between the hymen — posterior segment — and 

 labia minora). These glands secrete a viscid fluid which helps to 

 moisten and lubricate the surface of the vulva. 



Barrington has shown that the secretory fibres to the glands in 

 the cat are contained in both the hypogastric and pelvic visceral 

 nerves, the former controlling the secretion of mucin. He believes 

 Cowper's glands to be innervated in the same way. 



In addition to the accessory male glands described above, there 

 are, in many animals, other glands (perineal, inguinal, and preputial) 

 which are probably sexual, inasmuch 'as they are believed to serve as 

 means of attraction between the sexes during the breeding season.^ 

 Most of thesfe glands emit secretions of a musky odour, which in the 

 vast majority of cases is peculiar to the male, and very often to the 

 male during the rutting season only. Amongst the animals in which 

 this peculiarity occurs are the musk deer and other kinds of deer and 

 antelopes, the musk rat, the hamster, and many other Eodentia and 

 Insectivora. The tefnporal gland of the elephant is also stated to 

 emit a sexual secretion, especially in the male during rut. 



The Copulatoey Organ 



The penis is the intromittent organ of copulation. Besides 

 serving to conduct the urine to the exterior through the channel of 

 the urethra, it has the further function of conveying the' semen into 

 the genital passages of the female. This latter function is dependent 

 upon its power of erection under the influence of sexual excitement. 



The erectile tissue of the penis is contained chiefly in three tracts, 

 the two corpora cavernosa, which are situated one on each side and 

 are united in the middle line, and the smaller corpus spongiosum, 

 which is placed inferiorly and surrounds the urethral passage. The 

 corpora cavernosa are enclosed by an investment, containing plain 

 muscle fibres, nilmerous well-developed elastic fibres, as well as 

 bundles of white fibres. Trabeculse pass inwards from the fibrous 

 sheath and cross the cavities of the cavernous bodies, dividing them 

 into interstices which are filled with venous blood, being, in fact, 

 greatly enlarged vessels. The corpus spongiosum is similar in 

 structure, but its fibrous framework is not so well developed. The 

 canal of the urethra is surrounded by plain muscle fibres. Muscular 

 tissue is also present in the external coat of the spongy body, and in 

 the trabeculse. 



1 Tiedemann, Comparative Physiology, English Translation, London, 1834 ; 

 -Gross, "Beitrage zur Anatomie der Gesohleohtsdriisen der Insektivoren und 

 Nager," Arch. f. Mikr. Anat., vol. Ixvi., 1905. See also description of prepuce 

 (p. 2b4). 



