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Gubernaculum

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Days
  
60

Latin
  
Gubernaculum

Precursor
  
Intermediate mesoderm

Dorlands/Elsevier
  
g_13/12403750

Gubernaculum

Gives rise to
  
Gubernaculum testis (males), suspensory ligament of ovary, round ligament of uterus, ovarian ligament (females)

The paired Gubernacula (from Ancient Greek κυβερνάω = pilot, steer, 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).

Contents

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.

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.

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.

    • 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.

    • References

    Gubernaculum Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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