Spermatophoric Mass of the Lobster — MATTHEWS 
361 
Fig. 2. Male reproductive system enlarged to show: a, posterior mesentery of testis; h, portion of the digestive 
tract; c, posterior region of testis; d, proximal portion of vas deferens; e, region of mjd-testis;/, region of transverse 
bridges; g, hyaline line; h, enlarged, swollen portion of vas deferens; /, anterior region of testis. (IX) 
RESULTS 
The testes (Fig. lb) are seen to be long, 
whitish, sacculate tubes joined one to the 
other by a transverse bridge (Fig. 2f) just 
posterior to the junction of the pyloric 
region of the stomach (Fig. Ic) with the in- 
testine (a). Seen dorsally, the testes resemble 
an elongated H in which the posterior por- 
tion (Fig. 2c) usually exceeds the anterior 
portion (/) both in length and diameter. With 
the exception of the anterior distal portion 
of the testis which, as it encircles the stomach, 
extends ventrally, the major portion of the 
anterior testis lies dorsal to the hepato- 
pancreas (Fig. le) and the digestive tract 
(Fig. la, 2b). The posterior portion of the 
testis traverses caudad on either side of the 
intestine, often slightly ventrad to the di- 
gestive tract. It is not uncommon to observe 
differences in the size of the testicular horns, 
the right posterior portion often being longer 
than the left, or vice versa. The testes are held 
in place by mesenteries (Fig. 2a) which ex- 
tend posteriorly a short distance into the first 
abdominal segment, and anteriorly appear to 
be attached ventrad to the stomach. 
At the outset of this study it became ap- 
parent that an understanding of the origin, 
development, and nature of the spermato- 
phoric mass made necessary a thorough study 
of the histology of the testis. Only when the 
entire testis is studied in serial section can 
one properly interpret any single section or 
attempt the more difficult task of reconstruc- 
tion. Throughout each general region of the 
testis, follicles observed in any one histo- 
logical section exhibited various degrees of 
maturity, although the cells in any one follicle 
were usually at the same stage of develop- 
ment. 
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic reconstruction 
of the testis. It suggests, somewhat,, a panicu- 
late inflorescence, but seems to be a racemose 
or compound gland of freely branching 
ducts which terminate in acini, so that the 
whole resembles a compact cluster of grapes. 
The reconstruction further shows that the 
racemose, anterior portion of the testis {a) 
joins ultimately the racemose, posterior por- 
tion of the testis (b) to form an exceedingly 
long and highly coiled tube (c). This con- 
torted tube traverses the testis for some 
distance both anteriorly and posteriorly from 
its place of origin in the mid-testis {d) and 
ultimately emerges as the vas deferens (Figs. 
Id, 2d, 3e). 
