Chapter 14: Urogenital System 359

Abdominal
musculature
Ductus
deferens
Epididymis
Obliterated sac
Connection
between
peritoneal
cavity and
tunica
vaginalis
Hydrocele
Ductus
deferens
Cremasteric
fascia and
Ext.
Int.
spermatic
fascia
Epididymis
muscle A
Tunica vaginalis

!ubernaculum
C
Tunica vaginalis
Figure 14.41 A. Testis" epididymis" ductus deferens" and various layers of t#e ab$ dominal
wall t#at surround t#e testis in t#e scrotum. B. %aginal process in open com$ munication wit#
t#e peritoneal cavity. In suc# a case" portions of t#e intestinal loops often descend toward
and occasionally into t#e scrotum" causing an inguinal #ernia. C. Hydrocele.
muscle forms the external spermatic fascia (Fig. 14.41 A). The transversus
abdominis muscle does not contribute a layer, since it arches over this region
and does not cover the path of migration.
C L I N I C A L C O R R E L A T E S
Hernias and Cryptorchism
The connection beteen the abdominal cavity and the processus vaginalis in
the scrotal sac normally closes in the !rst year after birth (Fig. 14.4" D ). #f
this passageay remains open, intestinal loops may descend into the
scrotum, causing a congenital inguinal hernia. (Fig, 14.41 B ). $ometimes
obliteration of this passageay is irregular, leaving small cysts along its
course. %ater these cysts may secrete &uid, forming a hydrocele of the testis
and/or spermatic cord (Fig. 14,41C ).
#n '() of male neborns, testes are present in the scrotum before birth.
#n most of the remainder, descent ill be completed during the !rst *
months postnatally. Hoever, in less than 1) of infants, one or both testes
fail to descend. The condition is called cryptorchidism and may be caused
by de+ creased androgen (testosterone) production. The undescended testes
fail to produce mature spermato,oa and the condition is associated ith a
*) to
-) incidence of renal anomalies.
DE&CE'T O( THE
O%A)IE&
.escent of the gonads is considerably less in the female than in the male,
and the ovaries !nally settle /ust belo the rim of the true pelvis. The cranial
genital ligament forms the suspensory ligament of the ovary, hereas the