OCR Text |
Show 1378.] CHLAMYDOPHORUS TRUNCATUS. 675 walls are thick, being surrounded by a layer of circularly disposed muscular fibres. Resting upon the upper surface of the proximal half of this portion of the urethra is the prostate gland, the posterior border of which is attached to the tube. On slitting open the canal, no trace of a vesicula prostatica could be distinguished ; but it is well to bear in mind that the small size of the parts, together with the immersion of these for some time in alcohol, may have served to prevent the recognition of what, under any circumstances, must be a very minute organ. Professor Macalister 1 refers to the presence of a Weberian organ, of which, however, he gives no description, merely statiug that it is " long, and not distinctly bifid ;" but inasmuch as he makes no mention of a prostate gland, it appears to me to be not improbable that he may have mistaken that gland for the organ in question, an error which need occasion no surprise when the small size of the parts is taken into consideration. If the Weberian organ be present, it certainly does not project beyond the wall of the urethra. The extrapelvic or spongy portion of the urethra lies within the penis and measures •£ of an inch in length. At its commencement it receives the ducts of Cowper's glands, whilst at its termination it opens upon the summit of the rounded extremity of the penis. Testicles and vasa deferentia.-Professor Macalister2 states that the testicles lie within the "wide abdominal ends of the inguinal canals;" but this was certainly not the case in my specimen. In it the testicles were situated immediately posterior to the kidneys, and in close relation to the superior abdominal wall, to which each was closely attached through the reflection of the peritoneum. The testicle of the right side was posterior in position to that of the left. The gland itself was of the same size and form as a canary-seed, and, together with the epididymis, measured -1 of an inch in length. The latter was of large size as compared with the testicle, to the outer side of which it was attached at both its anterior and posterior extremities. The anterior extremity, or globus major, is continuous with the testicle, the separation between them being indicated by a slight constriction. From this it passes forward for -^ of an inch, and, suddenly curving upon itself, turns backward to the same extent, and becomes constricted to form tbe body of the epididymis. The latter extends along the outer side of the testicle as far as its posterior extremity, where it again expands into a glandular mass, or globus minor, which, however, is of larger size than both limbs together of the globus major. From this body the vas deferens passes off. The entire testicular mass is placed obliquely, its anterior extremity being directed obliquely forward and outward, the posterior, which is in contact with the lateral aspect of the apex of the bladder, in the opposite direction. The vas deferens measures 4. of an inch in length, and crosses the ureter in its course backward. The two vasa at their termination are almost in contact, and disappear from view by sinking into the anterior border of the prostate gland, the substance of which they traverse in their course to the i Loc di. 2 Loc- cif- |