Tunica vaginalis

Pouch of serous membrane that covers the testes

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
Latin| tunica vaginalis testis[1]
Anatomical terminology

[edit on Wikidata]

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 testis situated beneath it.

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

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### Visceral layer

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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

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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

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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[citation needed]) 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

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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

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* Mesothelioma[citation needed]
* Hydrocele[8]
* Cartilaginous bodies[9]
* Hematocele[10]

## References

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1. ^ "Anatonomina". www.terminologia-anatomica.org. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
2. ^ a b Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 1242.
3. ^ a b "tunica vaginalis". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
4. ^ "visceral layer of tunica vaginalis of testis". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
5. ^ a b c d e f Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42nd ed.). New York. pp. 1292–1293. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
6. ^ a b "parietal layer of tunica vaginalis of testis". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-08.
7. ^ a b 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.

## External links

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* Diagram at aspiruslibrary.org
* Anatomy photo:36:st-1502 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: Tunic"
* Swiss embryology (from UL, UB, and UF) ugenital/diffmorpho04
* inguinalregion at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (testes)

* v
* t
* e

Male reproductive system

Internal|

| Seminal tract|

| Testicles|

* Layers
* Tunica vaginalis
* Tunica albuginea
* Tunica vasculosa
* Appendix
* Mediastinum
* Lobules
* Septa
* Leydig cells
* Sertoli cells
* Blood–testis barrier

|

Spermatogenesis|

* Spermatogonium
* Spermatocytogenesis
* Spermatocyte
* Spermatidogenesis
* Spermatid
* Spermiogenesis
* Spermatozoon

Other|

* Seminiferous tubules
* Tubuli seminiferi recti
* Retia testes
* Efferent ducts
* Epididymides
* Appendix
* Inferior ligaments
* Superior ligaments
* Stereocilia
* Paradidymides
* Spermatic cords
* Pampiniform plexus
* Vasa deferentia
* Ampullae
* Rectovesical pouch
* Testicular arteries
* Testicular veins

Accessory glands|

* Seminal vesicles
* Excretory duct
* Prostate
* Urethral crest
* Seminal colliculus
* Ejaculatory ducts
* Sinus
* Ducts
* Utricle
* Bulbourethral glands

External|

| Penis|

* Root
* Crura
* Bulb
* Fundiform ligament
* Suspensory ligament
* Body
* Corpora cavernosa
* Trabeculae of corpora cavernosa
* Corpus spongiosum
* Trabeculae of corpus spongiosum
* Glans
* Foreskin
* Frenulum
* Corona
* Septum glandis
* Raphe
* Fascia
* Superficial
* Deep
* Tunica albuginea
* Septum
* Arteries
* Arteries of bulb
* Dorsal arteries
* Deep arteries
* Internal pudendal artery
* Veins
* Dorsal veins
* Vein of bulb
* Internal pudendal veins
* Nerves
* Dorsal nerves
* Pudendal nerves
* Urethra
* Internal urethral sphincter
* Internal urethral orifice
* Pre-prostatic
* Prostatic
* Intermediate
* Spongy
* External sphincter muscle
* Navicular fossa
* Lacuna magna
* External urethral orifice
* Lacunae of Morgagni
* Urethral glands

|

Scrotum|

* Layers
* Skin
* Dartos fascia
* External spermatic fascia
* Cremaster
* Cremasteric fascia
* Internal spermatic fascia
* Ligament
* Raphe
* Septum
* Arteries
* Anterior scrotal arteries
* Posterior scrotal arteries
* Nerves
* Anterior scrotal nerves
* Posterior scrotal nerves
* Perineal nerve
* Posterior scrotal veins

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* Anatomy

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