The external ring of the male groin is larger than that of the female; and this circumstance, with others of a like nature, may account for the fact, that the female is very rarely the subject of the direct hernia. In the male, the direct hernia is found to occur much less frequently than the oblique, and this we might, a priori, expect, from the anatomical disposition of the parts. But it is true, nevertheless, that the part where the direct hernia occurs is not defended so completely in some male bodies as it is in others. The conjoined tendon, which is described as shielding the external ring, is in some cases very weak, and in others so narrow, as to offer but little support to this part of the groin. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF PLATES 32, 33, & 34. PLATE 32. A. That part of the ilium which abuts against the sacrum. B. The spine of the ischium. C. The tuberosity of the ischium. D. The symphysis pubis. E. Situation of the anterior superior iliac spine. F. Crest of the ilium. G. Iliacus muscle. H. Psoas magnus muscle supporting the spermatic vessels. I. Transversalis muscle. K. Termination of the sheath of the rectus muscle. L1 L2 L3. The iliac, transverse and pelvic portions of the transversalis fascia. M M. The peritonaeum lining the groin. N. The epigastric vessels lying between the peritonaeum, M, and the transversalis fascia, L2. O. The umbilical ligament. P. The neck of the sac of an external inguinal hernia formed before the spermatic vessels. Q. An interval which occasionally occurs between the umbilical ligament and the epigastric artery. R and Q. Situations where the direct inguinal hernia occurs when, as in this case, the umbilical ligament crosses the space named the internal fossa--the triangle of Hesselbach. S. Lower part of the right spermatic cord. T. The bulb of the urethra. U. External iliac vein covered by the peritonaeum. V. External iliac artery covered by the peritonaeum. W. Internal iliac artery. X. Common iliac artery. [Illustration: Abdomen, showing bones, blood vessels, muscles and other internal organs.] Plate 32 PLATE 33.--The External Inguinal Hernia. A. Anterior iliac spinous process. B. The umbilicus. C. Fleshy part of the external oblique muscle; c, its tendon. D. Fleshy part of the internal oblique muscle; d, its tendon. E. Transversalis muscle; e, the conjoined tendon. F f. The funnel-shaped sheath of the spermatic vessels covering the external hernia; upon it are seen the cremasteric fibres. G g. The peritonaeal covering or sac of the external hernia within the sheath. H. The external abdominal ring. I. The crista pubis. K k. The saphenous opening. L. The saphena vein. M. The femoral vein. N. The femoral artery; n, its profunda branch. O. The anterior crural nerve. P. The epigastric vessels overlaid by the neck of the hernia. Q Q. The sheath of the femoral vessels. R. The sartorius muscle. S. The iliacus muscle.