title: Changes in the peritoneum during the development of the testis, epididymis and ductus deferens in the pig.
abstract: The development of the peritoneal folds of the testis, epididymis and ductus deferens of the pig prior to testicular descent was studied in 18 to 82 days-old embryos/fetuses. The parietal attachment of the mesonephros, mesonephric and paramesonephric ducts and gubernaculum constituted the urogenital mesentery. This could be divided in a cranial and a caudal part. The first fixed the mesonephros and had a mesogonad as a secondary fold. The second had two branches, one laterally to the umbilical artery belonging to the gubernaculum (Plica gubernacularis) and the medial to the artery contained the meso- and paramesonephric ducts. The mesogonad was related caudally with Plica gubernacularis. The fold of the meso- and paramesonephric ducts could also be divided in two parts. The caudal was a primary component of the urogenital mesentery, while the cranial was first ventral and later lateral to the mesogonad (mesorchium) and appeared as a secondary fold of the urogenital mesentery (cranial part). A vascular fold contributed to separate the suspensory ligament of the testis from the developing mesorchium. The proposed meaning of the terms used might be useful for comparative studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Martinez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000196:embryology*; D008297:Male; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000196:embryology*; D013552:Swine / Q000196:embryology*; D013737:Testis / Q000196:embryology*; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000196:embryology*