PROXIMAL INSERTION OF GUBERNACULUM TESTIS IN NORMAL HUMAN FETUSES AND IN BOYS WITH CRYPTORCHIDISM

Abstract

Purpose: We determine how the proximal gubernaculum testis is attached to the testis and epididymis in human fetuses, and compare these data with findings in boys who had undergone surgery for cryptorchidism.Materials and Methods: We analyzed 280 testes and epididymides with the gubernacula of 140 well preserved, fresh human fetuses ranging from 10 to 35 weeks after conception with no detectable congenital malformations and 36 undescended testes of 28 boys 2 to 15 years old (mean age 6.8) who had undergone surgery for cryptorchidism. In both groups the different conformations of the relationship among the proximal gubernaculum, testis and epididymis were classified according to a system used for patients with cryptorchidism. In group A the gubernaculum is attached to the testis and epididymis, in group B the gubernaculum is attached only to the testis with a tail disjunction epididymal anomaly, in group C the gubernaculum is attached only to the testis with total disjunction of the epididymis, in group D ...