The Reproductive Organs 339 



In some instances, the epididymis, E, Fig. 57, descends into 

 the scrotal sac, while the gland remains in the abdomen or in- 

 carcerated in the internal ring. Far more frequently, both gland 

 and epididymis are retained within the peritoneal cavity to con- 

 stitute cryptorchidy. The successful castration of cryptorchid 

 animals depends fundamentally upon a practical knowledge of 

 the track apd mode ofdescent of the testicle, and ofitsattachments, 

 through the medium of the gubernaculum testis, vas deferens 

 and testicular artery. 



The Wolffian ducts open early, at their posterior ends, into the 

 terminal portion of the allantoic stalk, which is later to consti- 

 tute the urethra, which, in the male, elongates backward to ex- 

 tend to the distal end of the penis. The penis of the male and 

 clitoris of the female arise alike as outgrowths from the ischial 

 arch ; in the female it stops short in its growth as a non-essen- 

 tial erectile organ, without acquiring any relationship with the 

 urethra, while, in the male, it becomes greatly elongated and, 

 curving downwards and then forwards, passes between the thighs 

 to end in a special sheath and prepuce. The urethra extends 

 throughout its entire length to open at the extremity of the glans 

 penis. 



Arrests or aberrations in development of the penis occur, con- 

 sisting usually of an abbreviation in its length, suggesting a 

 graduation in extent between a normal penis and clitoris. 

 Sometimes the defective penis is directed more or less backwards, 

 leading to a backward direction- of the urinary stream. In other 

 instances, the formation of the urethra is aberrant and it opens 

 at the ischial arch or lower down along the penis, to constitute 

 hypospadius or epispadius. 



Defects in the development of the penis and clitoris are largely 

 associated with aberrations in the essential genital organs them- 

 selves, partaking more or less of hermaphroditism or bi-sexual 

 character. Hermaphroditism varies greatly in character and 

 extent and tends largely to follow certain types for each species 

 of animals. In the horse, it is not rare to meet with an animal 

 having a well, developed vulva, vagina and uterus, the vulva 

 and vagina functioning, the latter ballooning under manual ex- 

 ploration, as in a normal mare. No ovaries are present but, 

 instead, typical cryptorchid testicles producing the ordinary 



