The paired Gubernacula are embryonic structures which begin as undifferentiated mesenchyme attaching to the caudal end of the gonad

Gonad

The gonad is the organ that makes gametes. The gonads in males are the testes and the gonads in females are the ovaries. The product, gametes, are haploid germ cells. For example, spermatozoon and egg cells are gametes...

s (testes in males and ovaries

Ovary

The ovary is an ovum-producing reproductive organ, often found in pairs as part of the vertebrate female reproductive system. Ovaries in anatomically female individuals are analogous to testes in anatomically male individuals, in that they are both gonads and endocrine glands.-Human anatomy:Ovaries...

 in females).

Function during development

As the scrotum

Scrotum

In some male mammals the scrotum is a dual-chambered protuberance of skin and muscle containing the testicles and divided by a septum. It is an extension of the perineum, and is located between the penis and anus. In humans and some other mammals, the base of the scrotum becomes covered with curly...

 and labia majora

Labia majora

The labia majora are two prominent longitudinal cutaneous folds that extend downward and backward from the mons pubis to the perineum and form the lateral boundaries of the pudendal cleft, which contains the labia minora, interlabial sulci, clitoral hood, clitoral glans, frenulum clitoridis, the...

 form in males and females, respectively, the gubernaculum aids in the descent of the gonads (both testes and ovaries).

The testes descend to a greater degree than the ovaries and ultimately pass through the inguinal canal

Inguinal canal

The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall which in men conveys the spermatic cord and in women the round ligament. The inguinal canal is larger and more prominent in men.-Site:...

.

Adult structures

The gubernaculum is present only during the development of the urinary and reproductive organs

Development of the urinary and reproductive organs

The development of the urinary and reproductive organs as a part of the prenatal development, concerns the urinary system and sex organs. The latter is a part of the stages of sexual differentiation....

, being replaced by distinct vestiges in males and females.

Males

In males:

• The upper part of the gubernaculum degenerates.

• The lower part persists as the gubernaculum testis
  Gubernaculum testis
  In the inguinal crest a peculiar structure, the gubernaculum testis, makes its appearance. This is at first a slender band, extending from that part of the skin of the groin which afterward forms the scrotum through the inguinal canal to the body and epididymis of the testis.-External links:*...
  
   ("scrotal ligament
  Scrotal ligament
  The scrotal ligament is actually the remnant of gubernaculum in a fetus. This ligament secures the testis to the most inferior portion of the scrotum, tethering it in place and limiting the degree to which the testis can move within the scrotum....
  
  "). This ligament secures the testis to the most inferior portion of the scrotum, tethering it in place and limiting the degree to which the testis can move within the scrotum.

Females

In females:

• The upper part of the gubernaculum, together with the ovarian artery
  Ovarian artery
  In human anatomy, the ovarian artery is a blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the ovary. It arises from the abdominal aorta below the renal artery, and does not pass out of the abdominal cavity. It can be found in the suspensory ligament of the ovary, anterior to the ovarian vein and...
  
   and vein
  Ovarian vein
  The ovarian vein, the female gonadal vein, carries deoxygenated blood from its corresponding ovary to inferior vena cava or one of its tributaries. It is the female equivalent of the testicular vein, and is the venous counterpart of the ovarian artery...
  
   form the suspensory ligament of the ovary
  Suspensory ligament of the ovary
  The suspensory ligament of the ovary, also infundibulopelvic ligament , is a fold of peritoneum that extends out from the ovary to the wall of the pelvis....
  
  , which suspends the ovary from the pelvic wall.

• The lower gubernaculum has two vestigial remnants in females, the ovarian ligament
  Ovarian ligament
  The ovarian ligament is a fibrous ligament that connects the ovary to the lateral surface of the uterus....
  
   and the round ligament of the uterus (ligamentum teres uteri) which respectively serve to support the ovaries and uterus in the pelvis.

Neoplasia

A rare complication of neoplastic origin during embryonic development is gubernaculoma. This may progress to gubernaculocarcinoma in situ. This rare form of cancer is associated with a tyrosine point mutation on r564:chromosome 9p6.

External links

- "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: The Scrotal Ligament"