Tunica albuginea of testis

The tunica albuginea is the fibrous tissue covering of the testis. It is a dense blue-grey membrane, composed of bundles of white fibrous connective tissue, from which it derives its name albuginea, which interlace in every direction.

For other structures with the same name, see Tunica albuginea.
Tunica albuginea of testis
A diagram of the major components of an adult human testicle, including the following numbered items: 1. Tunica albuginea, 2. Septula testis, 3. Lobulus testis, 4. Mediastinum testis, 5. Tubuli seminiferi contorti, 6. Tubuli seminiferi recti, 7. Rete testis, 8. Ductuli efferentes testis, 9a. Head of epididymis, 9b. Body of epididymis, 9.c Tail of epididymis,10. Vas deferens, 11a. Tunica vaginalis (parietal lamina), 11b. Tunica vaginalis (visceral lamina), and 12. Cavity of tunica vaginalis.
Section of a testicle of a bull, blood vessels injected with red gelatine. 1 parenchyma, 2 mediastinum testis, 3 tunica albuginea, 4 tail of epididymis, 5 head of epididymis, 6 spermatic cord with convoluted testicular artery
Details
Identifiers
Latintunica albuginea testis
Anatomical terminology

Structure

The tunica albuginea is a layer of fibrous tissue capsule covering the testis.[1] It is covered by the tunica vaginalis, except at the points of attachment of the epididymis to the testis, and along its posterior border, where the spermatic vessels enter the gland. It is thicker than the tunica albuginea of the ovary.[2]

The tunica albuginea is applied to the tunica vasculosa over the glandular substance of the testis, and, at its posterior border, is reflected into the interior of the gland, forming an incomplete vertical septum, called the mediastinum testis (corpus Highmori).

Additional images
  • Transverse section through the left side of the scrotum and the left testis.
  • Section of a genital cord of the testis of a human embryo 3.5 cm. long.
  • Vertical section of the testis, to show the arrangement of the ducts.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1242 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Federle, Michael P.; Rosado-de-Christenson, Melissa L.; Raman, Siva P.; Carter, Brett W., eds. (2017-01-01), "Testes and Scrotum", Imaging Anatomy: Chest, Abdomen, Pelvis (Second Edition), Elsevier, pp. 1000–1017, ISBN 978-0-323-47781-9, retrieved 2021-02-03
  2. Hummitzsch, Katja; Irving-Rodgers, Helen F.; Schwartz, Jeff; Rodgers, Raymond J. (2019-01-01), Leung, Peter C. K.; Adashi, Eli Y. (eds.), "Chapter 4 - Development of the Mammalian Ovary and Follicles", The Ovary (Third Edition), Academic Press, pp. 71–82, ISBN 978-0-12-813209-8, retrieved 2021-02-03
  • Anatomy photo:36:11-0102 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: The Cross-Section of the Testis"
  • inguinalregion at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (testes)


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