78 ANIMAL CASTBATION. 



postero-lateral wall of the abdomen resting on the 

 internal face of the thigh. Externally it is bound : on 

 the inside by the prepubic region ; on the outside by 

 the stifle and the haunch ; in front by the inferior 

 abdominal region ; behind by the flat of the thigh. 

 Deeply, it is limited : inside, by the prepubic tendon 

 of the abdominal muscles and the lateral margin of 

 the pelvis ; upwards, by the sub-lumbar region ; out- 

 wards, by the external angle of the ilium. 



In this region there is found normally in males a 

 canal which receives the spermatic cord, the inguinal 

 canal, which opens in the abdomen by a narrow ori- 

 fice, the superior inguinal ring. Its lower opening or 

 inferior inguinal ring is found in the fold of the groin, 

 above the testicle (Fig. A). 



In ridgliugs, the iuferior inguinal ring is felt almost 

 as readily as in subjects whose testicles are down; 

 but the canal which ought to continue it is wanting ; 

 the inguinal space is completely filled with connec- 

 tive tissue. In inguinal and complete cryptorchidy, 

 a blind canal has been made in the inguinal space by 

 the testicle partly down, by the epididymis or the 

 efferent duct ; this blind canal opens in the abdomen 

 by a narrow orifice (the superior inguinal ring) and 

 ends inferiorly in a cul-de-sac; its bottom is separated 

 from the inferior inguinal ring by a coat of con- 

 nective tissue of varying thickness. (Fig. B.) 



Considered in relation to the superposition of the 

 layers that form it, the inguinal ring presents a con- 

 dition similar to that of the abdominal walls; but 

 the direction of the deep layers gives it a very pecu- 



