The rete testis ( ; : retia testes) is an anastomosing network of delicate tubules located in the hilum of the

testicle A testicle or testis ( testes) is the gonad in all male bilaterians, including humans, and is Homology (biology), homologous to the ovary in females. Its primary functions are the production of sperm and the secretion of Androgen, androgens, p ...

( mediastinum testis) that carries

sperm Sperm (: sperm or sperms) is the male reproductive Cell (biology), cell, or gamete, in anisogamous forms of sexual reproduction (forms in which there is a larger, female reproductive cell and a smaller, male one). Animals produce motile sperm ...

from the seminiferous tubules to the efferent ducts. It is the homologue of the rete ovarii in females.Definition: Rete testis from Online Medical Dictionary
/ref> Its function is to provide a site for fluid reabsorption.

Structure

The rete testis is the network of interconnecting tubules where the straight seminiferous tubules (the terminal part of the seminiferous tubules) empty. It is located within a highly vascular connective tissue in the mediastinum testis. The epithelial cells form a single layer that lines the inner surface of the tubules. These cells are cuboidal, with microvilli and a single cilium on their surface.

Development

In the development of the urinary and reproductive organs, the testis is developed in much the same way as the

ovary The ovary () is a gonad in the female reproductive system that produces ova; when released, an ovum travels through the fallopian tube/ oviduct into the uterus. There is an ovary on the left and the right side of the body. The ovaries are end ...

, originating from

mesothelium The mesothelium is a membrane composed of simple squamous epithelium, simple squamous epithelial cells of mesodermal origin, which forms the lining of several body cavities: the pleura (pleural cavity around the lungs), peritoneum (abdominopelvic ...

as well as mesonephros. 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 future hilum and form a network that ultimately becomes the rete testis.

Function

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.

Clinical significance

Rete tubular ectasia is a disorder of the rete testis characterized by multiple benign cysts.

Etymology

English uses the

Neo-Latin Neo-LatinSidwell, Keith ''Classical Latin-Medieval Latin-Neo Latin'' in ; others, throughout. (also known as New Latin and Modern Latin) is the style of written Latin used in original literary, scholarly, and scientific works, first in Italy d ...

name for the structure, which simply means " network of the testis".

Additional images

File:Gray1149.png, Vertical section of the testis, to show the arrangement of the ducts. File:Rete testis with seminoma.jpg, Micrograph of the rete testis involved by seminoma. H&E stain. File:Tubular ectasia of the rete testis-0028.jpg, Tubular ectasia of the rete testis

References

External links

Image at UC Davis

Diagram

Diagram
Scrotum {{genitourinary-stub