Structural and functional significance of scrotal ligament: a comparative histological study
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Structural and functional significance of scrotal ligament: a comparative histological study Arthi Ganapathy1 · Jessy Jayaraman Pushpaja1 · Kanchan Kapoor2 · Mahesh Kumar Sharma2 · Seema Singh1 · Saroj Kaler Jhajhria1 Received: 8 June 2020 / Accepted: 17 August 2020 © Japanese Association of Anatomists 2020
Abstract Gubernaculum testes is the most important parameter in testicular migration. At the end of migration, it is described as scrotal ligament, which has implications in testicular torsion. The present study aims to examine the structure of scrotal ligament and compare it with gubernaculum. Sixteen adult cadaveric testicular specimens and fourteen fetal testicular specimens of different age groups were examined after getting ethical clearance from the institute ethics committee and consent from the parents. Meticulous dissection was done. The length, site of proximal, and distal attachment of scrotal ligament and gubernaculum were noted and histologically evaluated. A separate scrotal ligament could not be delineated in any adult specimens. It merged with testicular coverings. Histological examination showed the presence of patchy areas of dense collagen fibres of variable density amidst loose areolar connective tissue. In contrast, fetal specimens showed the presence of a definitive gubernaculum testes and revealed the presence of mesenchymal tissue, collagen, elastic fibres, and myocytes which varied according to gestational age of fetuses. Structure of scrotal ligament and gubernaculum testes is highly variable. Description of scrotal ligament as a firm attachment from lower pole of testes to scrotum is controversial, questioning its role as protective factor in testicular torsion. Keywords Gubernaculum · Testes · Genitoinguinal ligament · Testicular torsion
Introduction John Hunter first defined the genitoinguinal ligament or gubernaculum, Latin for rudder in 1762 (Hutson and Southwell 2013; Heyns 1987; Schoenwolf et al. 2015). The gubernaculum is connected to the caudal part of the male and female mesonephric–gonadal complex. With the active contraction of gubernaculum, the gonads descend (Schoenwolf et al. 2015; Costa et al. 2002). It is regarded the most significant factor in testicular descent. Its role in development of cryptorchidism has been studied extensively (Favorito et al. 2014; Zoghbi et al. 2007). The scrotal ligament or testicular ligament is described as remnant of gubernaculum testes extending from lower pole of testes to scrotum * Saroj Kaler Jhajhria [email protected] 1
Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Department of Anatomy, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India
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covered by tunica vaginalis. Studies have described scrotal ligament as the most important factor in preventing testicular torsion (Favorito et al. 2004). In testicular torsion, the testes suddenly spins inside the scrotum twisting and compromising its blood supply (DaJusta et al. 2013; Farrington et al. 2014). This signifie
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