The nerve travels to the thigh by passing under or through the inguinal ligament in its own tunnel.
The musky odour from which it derives its name is due to the secretion of a large gland situated in the inguinal region, and present in both sexes.
The teats are usually few, and inguinal, but may be numerous and abdominal (as in Suina), although they are never solely pectoral.
In post-mortem examination, the most obvious pathological lesion is hypertrophy of the spleen, which may be very pronounced; the lymphatic glands in the neck, inguinal region, &c., are also often greatly swollen.
The round ligament is a cord of unstriped muscle which runs from the lateral angle of its own side of the uterus forward to the internal abdominal ring, and so through the inguinal canal to the upper part of the labium majus.