Mikrokosmographia a description of the body of man. Together vvith the controuersies thereto belonging. Collected and translated out of all the best authors of anatomy, especially out of Gasper Bauhinus and Andreas Laurentius. By Helkiah Crooke Doctor of Physicke, physitian to His Maiestie, and his Highnesse professor in anatomy and chyrurgerie. Published by the Kings Maiesties especiall direction and warrant according to the first integrity, as it was originally written by the author.

CHAP. II. Of the preparing spermaticke or seede vessels.

THE first Instruments of Generation, are called vasa spermatica, the spermaticke * 1.1 vessels. These are larger in men then in women, and they are of two sortes, Preparantia or Deferentia, Preparing or Leading vessels. The Preparing Ves∣sels [Tab. 2. ^{t x a}. Tab. fi 1. g. 1. ^{o q r}] which are called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by Galen, by Aui∣cen vasa Lumbaria, are foure. Two veines [Tab. 1. ^{o q}. Tab. 2. ^{t x}] and two Arteries, on each * 1.2

side one [table 1, ^r, table 2, α] The right veine ariseth [Table 1, ^o table 2, ^t] a little below the originall of the emulgent [table 1, ^{h i} table 2, ^{m n}] from the vpper and forward part of * 1.3 the trunke of the hollow veine, as it were with a long and thick knub or knot [table 1, ^p tab. * 1.4 2, ^u] (to which as Galen obserued, a certain small branch is conuayed from the emulgent) that it might afford more pure and better concocted blood.

The left [table 1, ^q table 2, ^x] ariseth not from the trunke of the hollow veine, but from * 1.5 the lower part of the emulgent: for if it should haue risen from the same place in the hol∣low veine where the right seede-veine arose, it must necessarily haue gone ouer the great arterie [table 1, ^g] by the continuall motion of whose systole and diastole, that is, eleuation or distention, and depression or contraction, being smal, it would haue been either broken or * 1.6 much hindered from performance of his proper office, or else haue intercepted or offen∣ded the Arterie; both which inconueniences are auoyded by his arising, as we haue sayed out of the lower part of the left emulgent: [table 1. ^I, Table 2, ^u,] yet hath it sometimes a small braunch reached vnto it from the trunke [Table 2, ^Y] of the hollow veine; the blood also it brings is more serous then that of the right spermaticall veine.

The two Arteries arise neare one another [table 1, ^r table 2, ^a] out of the middle trunke * 1.7 of the great arterie a good way beneath the emulgents, that they might bring thinner and better cleansed or defoecated blood. The right spermaticall Arterie climbing ouer [table 1, figure 1. ^f] the trunke of the hollow veine hastneth obliquely to the seede veine; the left closely accompanieth the veine of his owne side. And this Artery we haue seene some∣times absent, and then the left seede veine is so much the larger; otherwise, generally these arteries are larger then their veines; because it was necessary that many vitall spirites and

[illustration]

Table 1. Lib. 4 sheweth the Kidneyes with the Vesselles of Vrine and of Seede; a part of the hollow veine, and also of the great Ar∣tery, the Testicles, the Bladder, and the Yarde.

[illustration]

The first Figure sheweth the fore-side, the second the hinder∣side.

[illustration]

TABVLA I.

[illustration]

FIG. I.

[illustration]

FIG. II.

• aaa, 1. The fore-part of the right kidney.
• bbb, 2. The back-part of the lefte kidney.
• c, 1. The outward side.
• dd, 1 2, The inner side.
• ee 1, 2, The two cauities whereinto the e∣mulgent vessels are inserted.
• ff, 1, 2, The trunk of the hollow veine.
• gg 1, 2, The trunke of the great artery.
• hi, 1 2, The emulgent veine and artery.
• kk 1 2, The right fatty veine.
• li, The left fatty veine.
• * 1. The Coeliacal arterie.
• mn 1, 2. The vreters.
• opq, 1, 2. The right spermatick vein which ariseth neare p. the left neare q.
• r 1, The place where the arteries of the seed do arise.
• s 1, 2, Small branches distributed from the spermatical veines to the Peritonaeum.
• t 1, 2, The spirie bodden body called vari∣cosum vas piramidale.
• u 1, 2. The Parastatae or Epididymis.
• x 1, The testicle couered yet in his coate.
• y 1, 2, The place where the leading vessell called vas deferens doth arise.
• α 1, 2, The descent of the same leading ves∣sell,
• β 1, 2. The reuolution of the same leading vessel.
• γ 1, 2. The passage of the same vessel reflec¦ted like a Recurrent nerue.
• ♌ 2. The meeting of the same leading ves∣sels.
• ε 1, 2. The Bladder of vrine; the first figure sheweth it open, the second sheweth the back-part of it.
• ζζ 1. The smal bladders of seed opened.
• nn 2. The glandules called glandulae prostatae. τ 2. The sphincter muscle of the bladder, •• ••, 1. 2. The two bodies which make the substance of the yarde. xx, 1. The vesselles which goe vnto the yarde and the necke of the bladder. Λ, 1. The passage which is common to the vrine and the seed, cut open. Ψ The implantation of the vreters into the bladder.

much arteriall bloud should be conuayed to the Testicle, that when the seede is perfected, it might be fulfilled with spirit and vitall heate. It is obserued also, but more rarely, that in * 1.8 some bodies both the Arteries are wanting; and happely it falleth out so in them that are barren, because there is no sourse of vitall spirits falling vpon the testicles.

All these vessels, the right veine with his Artery, and the left with his, not much parted one from another [Tab. 3. fig. 2 ^θθ] do beare vpon the Peritonaeum, and proceeding down∣ward, * 1.9 are ioyned together with fibrous ties, [Tab. 3. fig. 3 ^NN] and so passe along obliquely aboue the Vreters [Tab. 1. fig: 1, ^mn. Table 2 ^qq] allowing by the way certaine small braun∣ches [Tab: 1. ^s. Table ii, β] to the peritonaeum, thorough whose productions (which firmely grow to their sides [Table ii, γ. Table iii, Λ] at the groin) they make way, together with a small nerue of the sixt paire, and the Cremaster Muscle [Tab: 2, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] and so fal to the Parasta∣tae [Tab: 1, ^u. Table ii, ε] and to the vpper part of the Testicle, where the Veine and the Ar∣tery mixing together, do fashion out betweene them one body like a pyramis [Tab. ii, from ♌ to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] or spire depressed and plaine on each side. This bodie, because of the innumerable branches of Veines and Arteries ioyned by Anastomosis or inoculation, of which it is wo∣uen as it were into a platted web, is called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by Galen in his book de Semine, in Latine Corpus varicosum [Tab. 1 ^t. Table ii, ♌. Tab: 3, Fig. ii, μ, fig. 3. C. sheweth the beginning of it, and ^D the basis or foundation] the bodden bodye, and from the fashion of the tendrils of Vrine pampine-forme, we may call it the spiry bodden or embossed body, to di∣stinguish * 1.10 it from the Parastatae, which are also called corpora varicosa or bodden bodies. [tab 1. ^u Table ii, t]

The vse of these vessels is not onely to leade downe blood of both sorts, Veinall and Ar∣teriall, together with vitall spirits for the nourishment and life of the Testicles, but also to * 1.11 receiue a matter or substance which falleth from al parts of the body; (the last and most per¦fect superfluity of the Aliment) some-what to alter it, and so to conuey it to the parastatae for the generation of seede.

Moreouer about the middest of these vessels, the blood hath his first beginning of deal∣bation or whitening, yea, and a farther preparation also in those textures and webbes of which we lately spake, wherein by a kinde of irradiation the matter of the seede (as also the textures themselues) receyue vertue from the Testicles. Wherefore this spiry body clea∣ueth, yea groweth at his basis or foundation to the inmost coate of the testicles, bestowing vpon them certaine small surcles, but it entereth not into the body of the testicle, although * 1.12 some woulde haueit so, as Vesalius and Columbus, who also thinke that many of the fore∣named branches do passe through, and are disseminated into the substance of the testicle, where their coates become exceeding fine and thin, that the power of procreating seede might the more suddenly and at once flowe from the Testicles into those vessels; like as in the Liuer the tunicles or coates of the veines disseminated through his substance are most fine and subtile, that the blood might more easily be altered and concocted in them by the force of the parenchyma. And so much of the Preparing vesselles, now followe the para∣statae.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Two sorts of seede vessels.
• * 1.2

  Preparing.
• * 1.3

  Veines.
• * 1.4

  The right.
• * 1.5

  The left.
• * 1.6

  The great prouidence of nature.
• * 1.7

  Arteries.
• * 1.8

  A great cause of barrennes.
• * 1.9

  The course of the Sperma∣tick vessels.
• * 1.10

  The spirie bodden bodie.
• * 1.11

  The vse of the Spermaticke vessels.
• * 1.12

  Vesalius. Columbus.