Descent of the gonads

Initially, the gonads lie intraperitoneally and are connected to the dorsal abdominal wall through duplicate peritoneum (mesorchium, mesovarium). This fold continues up to the anlage of the diaphragm as the cranial gonadal ligament. It degenerates completely in males whereas in females it becomes the suspensory ligament of the ovary (lig. suspensorium ovarii).
The corresponding caudal gonadal ligament extends down into the inguinal region and into the labioscrotal fold. It becomes the gubernaculum testis in males, or the ovarian ligament proper (lig. ovarii proprium) and the round ligament of the uterus (lig. teres uteri) in females.
Blood vessels are carried downwards during the descent of the gonads. This accounts for the acute angle of the testicular and ovarian arteries which arise from the aorta. While the ovary is shifted towards the lesser pelvis, the testicle reaches the internal opening of the inguinal canal by month 7. It then passes through the canal and comes to lie in the scrotum shortly before birth.