89 
Keproductive system. — The male reproductive organs develop 
more rapidly than the female and reach maturity sooner. 
The cirrus pouch and vagina cross the excretorv canals and the 
lono’itudinal nerve on the dorsal side. 
Male organs. — Three testes {t.^ hgs. 75, 80, 82, 83) are normally 
present, two to the right and one to the left of the mass of female 
glands which occup}" the median portion of the proglottis. Two testes, 
however, may often be found occupying the side toward the genital 
pore and only one on the other side (lig. 77B). Exceptionally, also, 
onh^ two may be present, or there ma}' be four to six. In shape the 
testes are oval or spherical and when fulh" developed occupy nearh" 
the entire thickness of the central parenchyma. 
Vasa efferentia (y. ef. , hg. 80) lead from the dorsal sides of the testes, 
and the three canals converging to meet near the median line in the 
dorsal portion of the central parenchvma unite to form the ras defer- 
ens (v. def, tigs. 75, 80) which passes laterad near the anterior border 
Fig. 84. — Longitudinal section of proglottid of II. diminuta showing the arrangement of the uterus: 
ut., uterus; v. ex. can., ventral lateral excretory canal. Enlarged. (After Zschokke, 1889, pi. 2, 
fig. 24.) 
of the segment, in the direction of the genital pore. Before reaching 
the cirrus pouch, however, the vas deferens is dilated to form a large 
p}M'iform seminal vesicle {ves. sem..^ tigs. 75, 80, 82). 
The cirrus j)ouch {c. hgs. 75, 80) is claviform and well supplied 
with circular and longitudinal muscle fibers. Fibers directed in an 
oblique or spiral direction are also often apparent. The vas deferens 
within the cirrus pouch is supplied with muscle fibers: it becomes 
narrow and forms the slender cirrus., an organ bent and twisted when 
in a state of retraction, but which may be straightened and extended 
through the genital pore a distance of 50 to 60 }u. In sections the 
cirrus is occasionally seen protracted and entered for a considerable 
distance into the vagina of the same segment. 
After they have fulfilled their function, the testes degenerate, but 
traces of them are often distinguishable even in the oldest segments 
(^., fig. 83). After it once reaches maturity" the cirrus pouch continues 
with little apparent change to the end of the strobila. 
Fernale organs. — The vagina fag.., figs. 76, 80) opens into the genital 
poi*e on the ventral side of the cirrus pouch. It soon dilates into a 
large, elongated, and very prominent seminal recejitacle fee. sein..^ 
