OCR Text |
Show 420 DR. M. WATSON ON THE MALE [Apr- ^> tissue, which is of considerable thickness where it forms the bulb, is thin elsewhere. Opening into the bulb are the ducts of Cowper's glands. Testicles and Vasa deferentia.-The testicles are lodged in the non-pendulous scrotum, which is divided into two distinct compartments by a median septum. Each compartment is lined by a tunica vaginalis, which is reflected over the testicle. The cavity of the sac is continuous at the abdominal ring with that of the peritoneum, the communication between them remaining pervious. The testicle is oval in form, and measures \\ inch in length. The epididymis lies along its lower side, and is expanded above and below to form the globus major and minor. The latter is nearly as large as the former; and the so-called body of the epididymis is consequently reduced to a mere rudiment. The vas deferens, continuous with the globus minor, passes through the inguinal canal, enters the pelvic cavity, where it lies between the layers of the superior ligament of the bladder, and finally sinks into the muscular wall of the membranous portion of the urethra to terminate along with its fellow on the floor of the vesicula prostatica as already described. There are no vesiculee seminales. Cowper's Glands.-These are two in number and of large size. Each is placed alongside of the membranous portion of the urethra, in the interval between the levator ani and ischio-cavernosus muscles. Each gland is pyriform, and measures 1\ inch in length, and § of an inch in greatest breadth. The base is directed forward ; and from the apex is given off a duct -| of an inch in length, which opens into the roof of the bulbous portion of the urethra. The glands are solid ; and each is provided with a capsule of pale muscular fibres. Penis.-This organ is composed of two corpora cavernosa together with a corpus spongiosum. The former consist of two bands of erectile tissue flattened from side to side as in the clitoris of the female, and united along the middle line. Each is attached to the ischium just in front of the tuberosity of that bone, to form the crus, and unites with its fellow opposite the posterior extremity of the pubic symphysis. The corpus spongiosum is perforated by the urethral canal, and expands anteriorly and posteriorly to form the glans and the bulb. With the exception of these portions, this mass of erectile tissue is thin and contributes no great thickness to the wall of the urethra. The bulb is large and prominent, and is invested by the fibres of the bulbo-cavernosi muscles. The corpus spongiosum of the male therefore differs from the corresponding structure in the female, inasmuch as in the latter this body is divided into two lateral halves which are situated altogether above the urinogenital canal, whilst in the former they have coalesced to form a which open into a little recess on each side of the utriculus. As this animal was known to be at least twenty-four years of age, whilst m y specimen was not adult, it is possible that by reason of their small size the prostate glands of the latter m a y have escaped m y observation. In Mr. Flower's specimen the other generative glands were each twice as large as in m y own. |