Mediastinum testis

Mediastinum 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, 9c. 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 steer, 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
Identifiers
TA98	A09.3.01.018
TA2	3595
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The mediastinum testis is a thick yet incomplete septum at the posterior part of the testis formed by the tunica albuginea of testis projecting into the testis at its posterior aspect where the testis is not lined by the serous membrane to allow for the attachment of the epididymis. It extends posteriorly between the testis' superior pole and inferior pole.[1] It is wider superiorly than inferiorly.[2] It supports the rete testis and blood and lymphatic vessels of the testis in their passage into and out of the substance of the gland.[3]

The septa testis - extensions of the tunica albuginea into the substance of the testis that form fibrous partitions - converge towards the mediastinum testis.[3]

Additional images

• 
  Transverse section through the left side of the scrotum and the left testis.
• 
  Microscopic picture.

References

1. Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 1292. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.
2. Gray, Henry (1918). Gray's Anatomy (20th ed.). p. 1243.
3. Martini, Frederic; Tallitsch, Robert B.; Nath, Judi L. (2017). Human Anatomy (9th ed.). Pearson. p. 711. ISBN 9780134320762.

External links

• Histology at KUMC male-male09 "Mediastinum (human)"
• Anatomy photo:36:st-1402 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: Testis"