Part 1 evolution of descent of the testis and early history of research. This book provides a state of the art overview of all aspects of testicular descent and cryptorchidism, including the mechanisms of descent and the causes, consequences, diagnosis, and treatment of undescended testis. Intraabdominal pressure pushes the testis through the inguinal canal increased pressure promotes descent supported by theoretical and experimental development and maturation of the epididymis contributing to descent probably not as important as initially thought effects of the genitofemoral nerve severing the. Descent of the testis kindle edition by hutson, john m. They are contained within the scrotal sac, which is located directly behind the penis and in front of the anus. Complete descent of a testis occurs in two distinct stages. The advances in understanding that have been achieved over the past two decades. In 1999, a novel testicular factor, insl3, was discovered as the key hormone in the transabdominal phase of descent 1. An abdominal testis is also called true cryptorchidism greek. Testicular descent to the scrotum is a profound example of sexual dimorphism that. Descent of the testis from an intraabdominal site in foetal life to an extracorporeal location after birth is a mandatory developmental process to ensure that the mature testis promotes normal spermatogenesis. The gubernaculum testis arises in the course of the 7th week from the lower gubernaculum, after the mesonephros has atrophied. The testis develops in the dorsal abdominal wall, and then descends to scrotum.
Both involve a ligament attached to the base of the testis, the gubernaculum from the same ancient greek stem that gave us governor. Part i physiology of the hypothalamuspituitarygonadal axis, the testis, and testicular function. Descent of testes is surely connected with the fact that all mammals are warmblooded, typically having high core body temperatures around 37 o c 98. Central points of interest in this work are answers to questions which have been discussed controversially by generations of scientists and which. Jan 30, 2016 this book provides a state of the art overview of all aspects of testicular descent and cryptorchidism, including the mechanisms of descent and the causes, consequences, diagnosis, and treatment of undescended testis. Fetal development of reproductive system is a complex process which can be divided in two main stages. The regulation of testis descent is still being investigated and several different factors have been identified that may have roles in descent. In short, the descent of the testes consists of the opening of a connection from the testis to its final location at the anterior abdominal wall, followed by the development of the gubernaculum, which subsequently pulls and translocates the testis down into the developing scrotum. Ultimately, the passageway closes behind the testis. Data from a study of male human fetal between 10 and 35 weeks gonad position. Testicle or testis is the male reproductive gland or gonad in all animals, including humans. The two phases of transabdominal and inguinoscrotal descent occur approximately during the first and last thirds of gestation respectively. The testes descent at the end of the fetal development, under guidance of the gubernaculum testis, into the scrotum. Approximately 80% of cryptorchid testes descend by the third month of life.
Jan 19, 2015 this short clip highlights the layers that the testis descend through in a fun and memorable way akin to the book we are going on a bear hunt except this is we are going on a testes hunt. Descent of the testis this book provides a state of the art overview of all aspects of testicular descent and cryptorchidism, including the mechanisms of descent and the causes, consequences, diagnosis, and treatment of undescended testis. The lower portion persists as the tunica vaginalis testis, which consists of a parietal and a visceral layer. Testicular development and descent depend on a complex interaction among endocrine, paracrine, growth, and mechanical factors. At 3 weeks of development, the germ cells migrate from the yolk sac to the genital ridge. Our understanding of these pathways has grown over the past few years, and novel players involved in sexual development, such as epigenetic. The testicular descent in human origin, development and. It is known that testosterone promotes the descent of the testes. The migration anomalies of the testes will be treated in the pathology chapter. A division into stages is, however, both artificial and arbitrary. Endocrinology of the testis and male reproduction by manuela. Testicular descent is a twostage process that starts at about 8 weeks gestation and is usually complete by the middle of the third trimester. Cranially it has its origin at the testis and inserts in the region of the genital swelling future scrotum. Testis development is unusual in that several cell types such as sertoli, leydig, and.
A critical role in testicular descent has been attributed to androgens, insulinlike hormone 3 insl3 and antimullerian hormone. Thus any factor which reflects this organogenetic activity is also acting as an overarching sentinel of fetal wellbeing in this important but. The research data on human testis descent timing has been highly variable. From the 4th to the 8th week, in male embryos with a normal sex determining region on the short arm of the y chromosome, the germ cells coalesce to form the primordial testis. However, with the development of endocrinology in the 20th century, most of the. The descent of the testes during development is controlled by insulinlike 3 peptide and steroid hormones produced in testicular leydig cells, as well as by various genetic and developmental factors. The testicular descent in human origin, development and fate of. A descriptive and illustrated experimental study of normal development and the factors responsible for the descent of the testes in the dog was published as a thesis in the netherlands by baumans 1982. Understanding the embryologic origin of the testes and especially their descent can help remember the layers involved and to better comprehend the pathophysiology of certain conditions. In summary, it is likely that the genitofemoral nerve is a source of cgrp and that cgrp plays a role in gubernacular development. Endocrinology of the testis and male reproduction, pp. The development begins as early as 6th week of intrauterine life and is completed by fifth month of.
Passage through the inguinal canal needs development of the processus vaginalis, prior. The functions of the testes are to produce both sperm and androgens, primarily testosterone. Throughout the book due attention is given to ongoing controversies and divergences of opinion. This book is distributed under the terms of the creative commons. Testicular development and descent depend on a complex interaction among. Origin, development and fate of the gubernaculum hunteri, processus vaginalis peritonei, and gonadal ligaments advances. Fowler,b and sabine hombachklonischa adepartment of anatomy and cell biology, medical faculty, martin luther university of hallewittenberg, hallesaale, germany. This book provides a state of the art overview of all aspects of testicular descent and cryptorchidism, including the mechanisms of descent and the causes. Review molecular and genetic regulation of testis descent. This sex hormone permits the development of the male genitalia. You can advance to the next section if only interested in the imaging findings and would like to skip the overview of embryology. The advances in understanding that have been achieved over the past two decades are clearly explained, covering the latest.
Testis, in animals, the organ that produces sperm, the male reproductive cell, and androgens, the male hormones. Review molecular and genetic regulation of testis descent and external genitalia development thomas klonisch,a, paul a. Descent of testis article about descent of testis by the. In humans the testes occur as a pair of ovalshaped organs. This short clip highlights the layers that the testis descend through in a fun and memorable way akin to the book we are going on a bear hunt except this is. The regulation of testicular descent and the effects of cryptorchidism. Included in the thesis are six papers with coworkers, each with a bibliography. The book is intended as a major reference for endocrinologists, andrologists, and sexologists, as well as basic and clinical scientists. The second inguinoscrotal phase occurs between 2535 weeks.
Sexual differentiation starts with the development of bipotential gonads that further differentiate into testes or ovaries. Fetal testicular function testosterone, amh, insl3. Development of the testis is driven at puberty by the endocrine hpg axis. Bipotential gonadal tissue located on the embryos genital ridge begins differentiation into a testis during weeks 6 and 7 under the effects of the testisdetermining sry gene. Aug 30, 2017 fetal development of reproductive system is a complex process which can be divided in two main stages. In most mammals, the testis descends from the abdomen to an extracorporeal position scrotum to find a lower ambient temperature for normal spermatogenesis. During sex determination, the bipotential gonadal primordium develops according to chromosomal sex into either testis or ovary. Other factors that may play a role in testis descent include the antimullerian.
The difference between scrotal temperature and body temperature in adult males is 24c. This new edition of descent of the testis will be a timely update and valuable reference for all who are involved in research into testicular descent and management of cryptorchidism. Review molecular and genetic regulation of testis descent and. Embryology and physiology of testicular development and descent. Request pdf descent of the testis this book provides a state of the art. The daily degree of testicular descent varies according primarily to temperature. Testosterone release is controlled by the anterior pituitary luteinizing hormone.
Cryptorchidism is the absence of one testis or both testes from the scrotum, caused by a deficient or irregular testicular descent undescended testis. Fowler,b and sabine hombachklonischa adepartment of anatomy and cell biology, medical faculty, martin luther university of hallewittenberg, hallesaale, germany bdepartment of obstetrics and gynaecology, university of aberdeen, aberdeen ab25 2zd, scotland, uk. Thus any factor which reflects this organogenetic activity is also acting as an overarching sentinel of fetal wellbeing in this important but analytically obscure phase of human pregnancy. They are originally intraperitoneally, and thus after descent, their tunica vaginalis is a remnant of infolded peritoneum. Anatomical and functional aspects of testicular descent and. Development and descent of the testis in relation to. The descent of the testis is a complex, twostage process. The first stage of testicular descent occurs 1015 weeks of gestation with the testes moving to the inguinal region. Testis development and descent is proceeding very actively in the transition from first to second trimester in the human. Normal development of the processus vaginalis, which is part of the second phase of descent, along with hypermobility of the testis because the gubernaculum is long allows the testis ducts to prolapse into the groin. A passage in the lower anterior abdominal wall which in the male allows passage of the spermatic cord back into the pelvic cavity from the scrotum. As a testis descends, it drags along the spermatic cord, which consists of the ductus deferens a tube that transports sperm from the testis, blood vessels, and nerves. The descent of the testes consists of the opening of a connection from the testis to its final location at the anterior abdominal wall, followed by the development of the gubernaculum, which subsequently pulls and translocates the testis down into the developing scrotum. Descent of the testes while in the first year of life the upper part of the vaginal process becomes obliterated, there remains only the peritoneovaginal ligament.