Gubernaculum
| Gubernaculum | |
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| Sagittal section through the pelvis of a newly born female child. (Label for round ligament of uterus visible at upper right.) | |
| Latin | Gabernaculum |
| Gray's | subject #252 1211 |
| Days | 60 |
| Precursor | Intermediate mesoderm |
| Gives rise to | Gabernaculum testis (males), suspensory ligament of ovary, round ligament of uterus, ovarian ligament (females) |
The paired Gubernacula (also called the Caudal Genital Ligament) are embryonic structures which begin as undifferentiated mesenchyme attaching to the caudal end of the gonads (testes in males and ovaries in females).
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[edit] Function during development
As the scrotum and labia majora form in males and females, respectively, the gubernaculum aids in the descent of the gonads (both testes and ovaries).
The testes descend to a greater degree than the ovaries and ultimately pass through the inguinal canal.
[edit] Adult structures
The gubernaculum is present only during the development of the urinary and reproductive organs, being replaced by distinct vestiges in males and females.
[edit] Males
In males:
- The upper part of the gubernaculum degenerates.
- The lower part persists as the gubernaculum testis ("scrotal ligament"). This ligament secures the testis to the most inferior portion of the scrotum, tethering it in place and limiting the degree to which the testis can move within the scrotum.
[edit] Females
In females:
- The gubernaculum has two vestigial remnants in females, the ovarian ligament and the round ligament of the uterus (ligamentum teres uteri) which respectively serve to support the ovaries and uterus in the pelvis.
[edit] Pathology
[edit] Neoplasia
A rare complication of neoplastic origin during embryonic development is gubernaculoma. This may progress to gubernaculocarcinoma in situ. This rare form of cancer is associated with a tyrosine point mutation on r564:chromosome 9p6.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- SUNY Labs 36:06-0101 - "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: The Scrotal Ligament"
- Gubernaculum at eMedicine Dictionary
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