Testes and epididymis

TESTES AND EPIDIDYMIS
( Bull, Ram, Buck, Horse, Boar, Dog, Rabbit, Cock )

Bull

  • The testicles are two elongated oval, compound tubular glands situated in the scrotum and suspended by the spermatic cords
  • The long axis of the testis is vertical to the long axis of the body and each is slightly compressed from side to side and presents two faces, two borders and two extremities
  • The lateral surface is convex and smooth and is covered by the tunica vaginalis propria
  • The medial surface is slightly flattened due to its contact with the septum scroti
  • The free border is cranial and is convex. The attached-border is caudal and is called the epididymal border
  • This border is nearly straight and the epididymis is attached to it
  • The dorsal and ventral extremities are rounded
  • The testicle of an adult bull weighs about 300 gm. and measures 10 to 12 cm long and 6 to 8 cm wide
  • The left one is heavier than the right by 30 gm. or more
  • The epididymis is attached along the caudal border of the testicle and slightly overlaps its lateral surface
  • It presents three parts. The dorsal enlarged end is the head
  • The middle part is the body and the lower part is the tail. The head is large and is closely adherent to the dorsal end of the testicle
  • The body is narrow and lies along the lateral part of the caudal border of the testicle
  • The tail is large, attached to the ventral end of the testicle by the ligamentum epididymis is continued by the vas deferens

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Species difference

Ram and Buck

  • The testicles are relatively larger
  • They are broader in proportion to their length

Stallion

  • The testicles are smaller but globular
  • The long axis of testes is parallel to the long axis of the body and hence the attached border of the testicle is dorsal
  • The testicle weighs about 225 to 300 gm. It measures 10 to 12cm long x 6 to 7 cm high x 5 cm wide
  • The epididymis is directed upward

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Boar

  • Testicles are elliptical in contour
  • The long axis is directed upward and backward
  • The spermatic cord is large and the cremaster muscle is well developed
  • The epididymis is closely attached to the testicle. Its tail is very large and forms a blunt conical projection at the caudal end of the testicle

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Dog

  • They are small and oval
  • They are suspended in an oblique direction upwards and backwards
  • Epididymis is large and is along the dorsal border

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Rabbit

  • A pair of ovoid testes lies in the scrotum of the adult

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Cock

  • The testicles lie ventral to the cranial lobes of kidneys
  • The right one is against the dorsal part of the right lobe of liver
  • The left one is related to the glandular stomach
  • They are bean shaped and bear on the concave border a flattened projection -the rudimentary epididymis

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Last modified: Saturday, 21 April 2012, 6:02 AM