The testicular descent (descensus testis) is described in a complete series of human material from stage 14 CC to the adult state by using own phases. Central points of interest in this work are answers to questions which have been discussed controversially by generations of scientists and which are wrong or inadequately documented in most textbooks of embryology: Does an inner gonadal descent exist? What about origin, role and fate of gubernaculum H., processus vaginalis peritonei and gonadal ligaments? How do the annexes of testis come into their final position? The results are based on serial sections, scanning electron microscopy, three-dimensional reconstructions, microdissection and immunohistochemistry.

1 Introduction

2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Scanning Electron Microscopy
2.2 Immunohistochemistry
3 Transabdominal (Inner) Descent of Gonads - Anlage of Diaphragm and Cranial Mesonephric Ligament
4 Development, Shape and Fate of the Gubernaculum Hunteri and Processus Vaginalis Peritonei - Phases of Testicular Descent
4.1 Results
4.2 Discussion
5 Origin of the Caudal Ligaments of the Ovary and Uterus
6 Summary and Conclusions
References.