Tunica vaginalis

The tunica vaginalis is a pouch of[2] serous membrane[3] within the scrotum that lines the testis and epididymis (visceral layer of tunica vaginalis), and the inner surface of the scrotum (parietal layer of tunica vaginalis). It is the outermost of the three layers that constitute the capsule of the testis, with the tunica albuginea of penis situated beneath it.

Tunica vaginalis
Diagram of a cross-section of a testicle. 1. Cavity of tunica vaginalis, 2. Visceral lamina, 3. Parietal lamina.
The right testis, exposed by laying open the tunica vaginalis. (Tunica vaginalis is labeled at upper right.)
Details
Identifiers
Latintunica vaginalis testis[1]
Anatomical terminology

It is the remnant of a pouch of peritoneum which is pulled into the scrotum by the testis as it descends out of the abdominal cavity during foetal development.[3]

Anatomy

Visceral layer

The visceral layer of tunica vaginalis of testis (lamina visceralis tunicae vaginalis testis)[4] is the portion of the tunica vaginalis that covers the testis and epididymis. It is the superficial-most of the three layers that constitute the capsule of the testis, with the tunica albuginea of testis situated deep to it. Posteriorly, the visceral layer does not line the surface of the testis - instead, it passes onto the epididymis where the latter attaches to the testis before continuing onto the inner surface of the scrotum as the parietal layer.[5]

Parietal layer

The parietal layer of tunica vaginalis of testis (lamina parietalis tunicae vaginalis testis)[6] is the portion of the tunica vaginalis that lines the inner surface of the scrotum.[5] It is supported by the internal spermatic fascia.[6]

Cavity of the tunica vaginalis
Schematic drawing of a cross-section through the vaginal process. 1 testicle, 2 Epididymis, 3 Mesorchium, 4 Lamina visceralis of Tunica vaginalis, 5 Lamina parietalis of Tunica vaginalis, 6 Cavum vaginale, 7 Epididymis, 8 Fascia spermatica interna

The cavity of the tunica vaginalis[5] (also: cavum of the tunica vaginalis,[5] or cavum vaginale) is the cavity between the visceral layer and the parietal layer of tunica vaginalis. It is normally occupied by a small amount of clear, lightly coloured fluid.[5]

The volume of the fluid in the cavity may increase abnormally when lymphatic drainage is impeded (due to inflammation, neoplasm, or trauma).[5]

Development

The tunica vaginalis is derived from the vaginal process of the peritoneum, which in the fetus precedes the descent of the testes from the abdomen into the scrotum.[7] The vaginal process between the abdominal inguinal ring and the superior part of the testis is then obliterated, usually leaving a string-like or cord-like remnant adjacent to the spermatic cord.[2] If the vaginal process fails to obliterate, the communication between the peritoneal cavity and scrotum persists after birth, predisposing the individual to indirect inguinal hernia, and hydrocele testis.[7]

Diseases

References
  1. "Anatonomina". www.terminologia-anatomica.org. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  2. Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 1242.
  3. "tunica vaginalis". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  4. "visceral layer of tunica vaginalis of testis". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  5. Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. pp. 1292–1293. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. "parietal layer of tunica vaginalis of testis". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  7. Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. pp. 1292–1293. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  8. Hydrocele in Emergency Medicine at eMedicine
  9. Paget, J (1855). "Account of a Growth of Cartilage in a Testicle and its Lymphatics, and in other parts". Medico-Chirurgical Transactions. 38: 247–260.9. doi:10.1177/095952875503800117. PMC 2104299. PMID 20896046.
  10. Garriga, Victoria; Serrano, Angel; Marin, Anna; Medrano, Santiago; Roson, Nuria; Pruna, Xavier (2009). "US of the Tunica Vaginalis Testis: Anatomic Relationships and Pathologic Conditions". RadioGraphics. 29 (7): 2017–32. doi:10.1148/rg.297095040. PMID 19926760.
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