A peritoneal diverticulum in the embryonic lower anterior abdominal wall that traverses the inguinal canal. In the male it forms the tunica vaginalis testis and normally loses its connection with the peritoneal cavity; a persistent processus vaginalis in the female is known as the canal of Nuck[MP].
Synonyms:
exact_synonym:
processus vaginalis peritoneus; saccus vaginalis
narrow_synonym:
processus vaginalis peritonei masculinus
broad_synonym:
processus vaginalis
related_synonym:
peritoneal diverticulum; processus vaginalis peritonei; vaginal process; vaginal process of peritoneum; vaginal process of testis; vaginal process of the peritoneum