THE UROGENITAL SYSTEM. 



131 



The testis spends the seventh month of foetal life in its 

 exodus through the abdominal wall. In the eighth month it 

 leaves the inguinal canal and lies at the external abdominal ring. 

 After birth it reaches the fundus of the scrotum. The atrophy of 

 the gubernaculum pulls it down. A remnant of the guber- 

 naculum can always be found in the adult behind the epididymis 

 and testicle, within the mesorchium (Fig. 105). 



The Processus Vaginalis. — The processus vaginalis becomes 

 occluded at two points about the time of birth (Fig. 105). The 

 upper point of occlusion takes place at the internal abdominal 



r int. ab. ring {upper point 

 wfocclus.) 



ext. ab. ring 

 ■funicular process 



.lower point of 

 plica. uasc.^jS^occlusion 



epidid.- 



testis IU- I -\-tunica uaginalis, 



remnant of gubernac. 



Fig. 105.— A diagram of the Processus Vaginalis. 



ring ; the lower a short distance above the testicle. The part of 

 the processus vaginalis between the points of occlusion is known 

 as the funicular process ; the part surrounding the testicle becomes 

 the tunica vaginalis. In quite 30 o /° of children the occlusion 

 takes place at the internal abdominal ring some considerable time 

 after birth or it fails to appear altogether. Occlusion may fail at 

 the upper point, at the lower point, or at both. Or it may close 

 at both points, but the funicular process, instead of disappearing, 

 may remain open and form a cyst (Fig. 105). 



Descent of the testicle may be arrested at any stage; often 

 in the inguinal canal ; more frequently at the external abdominal 



