On the male generative organs of Chlamydophorus truncatus and Dasypus sexcinctus / by M. Watson.

  • Watson, Morrison.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the male generative organs of Chlamydophorus truncatus and Dasypus sexcinctus / by M. Watson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    C/4 DR. M. WATSON ON THE MALE ORGANS OF [June 18, The specimen measured 4| inches in length, exclusive of the tail. Penis.—The penis is large for the size of the animal, and, so far as one can judge from the examination of specimens preserved in alcohol, appears, in the natural condition, to be strongly curved, the convexity of the curve being directed forward, whilst the extre- mity of the penis is directed downward and backward toward the anus. The organ is slender, and tapers gradually from base to apex, measuring § of an inch in length and ^ of an inch in diameter. The base is surrounded by a small prepuce consisting of little more than a narrow ring of integument, and is entirely destitute of a frenum praeputii. The presence of two powerful retractores penis, however, justifies us in concluding that in the Chlamydophorus, as in Da- sypus sexcinctus, the penis is, in the flaccid condition, retracted within this apparently rudimentary prepuce. The intermediate por- tion of the penis presents an appearance of irregularly disposed cir- cular constrictions, apparently due to the annulated character of the integument, and corresponding exactly to that described below in the six-banded Armadillo. The glans penis is not distinguishable as a separate portion from the rest of the organ ; and the absence of it, together with that of the bulb, would appear to indicate that a corpus spongiosum is altogether wanting, as it apparently is in the Armadillo, the penis in that animal being formed exclusively by the two cor- pora cavernosa. I could not distinguish any patch of transverse ridges on the ventral aspect of the organ, such as is seen in that of Dasypus sexcinctus; but the small size of the parts, combined with their immersion in alcohol, may have obliterated these (under any cir- cumstances) very minute elevations. Internal Organs. Kidney.—The kidneys are large in comparison with the size of the animal, and are situated in the lumbar region. Each is almost globular in form, measuring $ of an inch in length and J- in breadth, and is surmounted by a suprarenal capsule of large size and pyramidal form. The ureter measures -fy of an inch in length, and enters the bladder close to the orifice of the urethra, being crossed on its inner side from before backward by the corresponding vas deferens. Bladder.—The bladder, globular in form, small, and provided with walls of considerable thickness, lies altogether in front of the transverse ligament which unites the two pubic bones together, and which corresponds in position to the pubic portion of the brim of the pelvis in the majority of mammals. The viscus is partly invested by peritoneum, which forms a well-marked inferior ligament attach- ing it to the middle line of the anterior abdominal wall. In the spe- cimen examined the bladder was contracted, and measured \ of an inch in length and the same in greatest breadth. The urethral ori- fice is on a level with the base of the viscus. Urethra.— The urethra is divisible into two portions—an intra- pelvic or muscular, and an extrapelvic or spongy portion. The intrapelvic portion, from the neck of the bladder to the point of en- trance of the Cowperian ducts, measures -j^-of an inch in length. Its [2]