134 THE GEXITO-UIMNAEY SYSTEM. 



the ejaciilatory ducts. The semen being thrown through the 

 ejaculatory ducts into the urethra, by the contraction of the 

 walls of the vesictilae seminales at the time of copulation, passes 

 down the urethra and is deposited in the vagina of the female. 

 The testicles in sheep are very large in proportion to the animal's 

 size, which accounts for the wonderful procreative powers 

 possessed by rams, that are able, when full grown, to serve from 

 75 to 100 ewes in the course of a month. The penis of the ram 

 has at its extremity a vermiform appendage, which is a prolonga- 

 tion of the urethra. This is A^ery sensitive, and is the part fre- 

 quently injured in the removal of calculi from the penis. When 

 injured this appendage is very apt to slough off, seriously affect- 

 ing the usefulness of the ram for breeding purposes. 



"Cbc Generative Organs of the ■female. 



Situated in the abdomen, close to the borders of the pelvic 

 cavity, are found two ovoid shaped glands, one on each side, rest- 

 ing in the folds of a ligamentous structure called the broad liga- 

 ment. These are the ovaries, and are to the female what the 

 testicles are to the male. In these bodies the germ ovum is gen- 

 erated. Passing downwards and backwards from the ovary we 

 find a very short convoluted tube, which connects the ovary with 

 the womb. This tube is called the fallopian tube. It is at- 

 tached to the ovary at the time of germination of the ovum by 

 means of a fimbriated umbrella-like opening called the pavilion 

 of the tube. The womb is a membranous sac to which the 

 ovum is carried, and in which it develops. It is situated at the 

 entrance of the pelvic cavity, immediately under the rectum, 

 being held in position by the broad ligament. It possesses a 

 body and two arms, or horns as they are termed, the extremities 

 of which are twisted upwards and outwards, and are also held in 

 place by folds of the broad ligament. The posterior end of the 

 uterus terminates in a muscular neck, called the cervix uteri. 



