| Rete testis | |
|---|---|
 Position of the rete testis within the testicle | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Precursor | Wolffian duct |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | rete testis |
| MeSH | D012152 |
| TA98 | A09.3.01.024 |
| TA2 | 3601 |
| FMA | 19834 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Therete testis (/ˈriːtiˈtɛstɪs/REE-teeTES-tis;pl.:retia testes) is ananastomosing network of delicatetubules located in the hilum of thetesticle (mediastinum testis) that carriessperm from theseminiferous tubules to theefferent ducts. It is thehomologue of therete ovarii in females.[1] Its function is to provide a site for fluid reabsorption.
The rete testis is the network of interconnecting tubules where thestraight seminiferous tubules (the terminal part of theseminiferous tubules) empty. It is located within a highly vascularconnective tissue in themediastinum testis.[2] Theepithelial cells form a single layer that lines the inner surface of the tubules. These cells arecuboidal, withmicrovilli and a singlecilium on their surface.[3]
In thedevelopment of the urinary and reproductive organs, thetestis is developed in much the same way as theovary, originating frommesothelium as well asmesonephros. Like the ovary, in its earliest stages it consists of a central mass covered by a surface epithelium. In the central mass, a series of cords appear. These cords run together toward the futurehilum and form a network that ultimately becomes the rete testis.
It appears the function of the rete testis is to mix the sperm as they leave the seminiferous tubules. Sperm leave the seminiferous tubules in the dilute secretions of Sertoli cells. The rete testis does modify the luminal fluids with a limited amount of secretion and reabsorption, but their primary function is to mix and transport the sperm into the efferent ductules, where the major function is reabsorption of about 95% of the fluid, which increases the sperm concentration prior to entering the epididymis.
Rete tubular ectasia is a disorder of the rete testis characterized by multiple benigncysts.
English uses theNeo-Latin name for the structure, which simply means "network of thetestis".
 | This article related to thegenitourinary system is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |
