Standard Lemma guide

gubernaculum

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌɡjuː.bəˈnak.jʊl.əm/
  • General-American: /ˌɡu.bɚˈnæk.jəl.əm/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A part or structure that serves as a guide:

Either of a pair of folds of peritoneum which connects the caudal end of the fetal testis with the bottom of the scrotum in a male fetus, and by failing to elongate in proportion to the rest of the fetus causes the descent of the testis into the scrotum; or an analogous cord of connective tissue attached to the ovary in a female fetus, which is the precursor of the round and ovarian ligaments.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: embryology, medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A part or structure that serves as a guide:

(more fully gubernaculum dentis) A cord or sheath of connective tissue that connects the sac of an unerupted permanent tooth with the surface of the gum.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: dentistry, medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A part or structure that serves as a guide:

The reproductive tract of an invertebrate, or part of it; especially the section containing the gonophores (in a hydrozoan); a sclerotized structure in the cloaca (in a nematode).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences, zoology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A part or structure that serves as a guide:

(rare) A trailing flagellum in certain protists used for steering.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Latin gubernāculum (“a helm, rudder”).