wolffian duct
The Wolffian duct (also known as the mesonephric duct) is one of the paired embryogenic tubules that drain the primitive kidney (mesonephros) to the cloaca. It also gives off a lateral branch forming the ureteric bud. In both the male and the female, the Wolffian duct develops into the trigone of the urinary bladder.
Development
Female
In the female, in the absence of testosterone, the Wolffian duct regresses. However, inclusions may persist resulting in the epoophoron and Skene's glands. Where a remnant exists lateral to the wall of the vagina, a Gartner's duct or Gartner's cyst may form.
Male
When the ducts are exposed to testosterone during embryogenesis, male sexual differentiation occurs: the Wolffian duct develops into the rete testis, the ejaculatory ducts, the epididymis, the ductus deferens and the seminal vesicles. The prostate is formed separately from the urogenital sinus.
History and etymology
Named after Caspar Friedrich Wolff: described the mesonephros and its ducts in his dissertation in 1759.
See also
Related Radiopaedia articles
Anatomy: Abdominopelvic
- skeleton of the abdomen and pelvis
- muscles of the abdomen and pelvis
- spaces of the abdomen and pelvis
- anterior abdominal wall
- posterior abdominal wall
- abdominal cavity
- pelvic cavity
- perineum
- abdominal and pelvic viscera
- gastrointestinal tract
- spleen
- hepatobiliary system
- endocrine system
- adrenal gland
- adrenal vessels
- chromaffin cells
- variants
- pancreas
- organs of Zuckerkandl
- adrenal gland
- urinary system
- kidney
- renal pelvis
- renal sinus
- avascular plane of Brodel
- variants
- number
- fusion
- location
- shape
- ureter
- urinary bladder
- urethra
- embryology
- kidney
- male reproductive system
- prostate
- seminal vesicles
- ejaculatory duct
- bulbourethral glands
- urethral glands of Littré
- spermatic cord (mnemonic)
- scrotum (mnemonic)
- penis
- female reproductive system
- vulva
- vagina
- uterus
- Fallopian tubes
- ovaries
- ovarian follicle
- dominant ovarian follicle
- primary follicle
- secondary follicle
- mature vesicular follicle
- corpus luteum
- corpus albicans
- cumulus oophorus
- ovarian follicle
- broad ligament (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- embryology
- blood supply of the abdomen and pelvis
- arteries
- abdominal aorta
- inferior phrenic artery
- celiac artery
- superior mesenteric artery
- middle suprarenal artery
- renal artery (variant anatomy)
- gonadal artery (ovarian artery | testicular artery)
- inferior mesenteric artery
- lumbar arteries
- median sacral artery
- common iliac artery
- external iliac artery
- internal iliac artery (mnemonic)
- anterior division
- posterior division (mnemonic)
- variant anatomy
- abdominal aorta
- portal venous system
- veins
- anastomoses
- arterioarterial anastomoses
- portal-systemic venous collateral pathways
- watershed areas
- arteries
- lymphatics
- lymph node groups
- para-aortic lymph nodes
- preaortic lymph nodes
- portal and portocaval lymph nodes
- gastric lymph node stations
- peripancreatic lymph nodes
- common iliac lymph nodes
- external iliac lymph nodes
- internal iliac lymph nodes
- cisterna chyli
- lymph node groups
- innervation of the abdomen and pelvis
- lumbar plexus
- sacral plexus
- lumbosacral trunk
- sciatic nerve
- superior gluteal nerve
- inferior gluteal nerve
- nerve to piriformis
- perforating cutaneous nerve
- posterior femoral cutaneous nerve
- parasympathetic pelvic splanchnic nerves
- pudendal nerve
- nerve to quadratus femoris and inferior gemellus muscles
- nerve to internal obturator and superior gemellus muscles
Siehe auch:
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Assoziationen und Differentialdiagnosen zu wolffian duct:
