Paradidymis
The term paradidymis (organ of Giraldés[2]) is applied to a small collection of convoluted tubules, situated in front of the lower part of the spermatic cord, above the head of the epididymis.
Paradidymis | |
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Details | |
Precursor | Mesonephric tubules[1] |
Identifiers | |
Latin | Paradidymis |
TA98 | A09.3.03.001 |
TA2 | 3614 |
Anatomical terminology |
These tubes are lined with columnar ciliated epithelium, and probably represent the remains of a part of the Wolffian body, like the epididymis, but are functionless and vestigial. The Wolffian body operates as a kidney (mesonephros) in fishes and amphibians, but the corresponding tissue is co-opted to form parts of the male reproductive system in other classes of vertebrate. The paradidymis represents a remnant of an unused, atrophied part of the Wolffian body.
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1246 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- Fix, James D.; Dudek, Ronald W. (1998). Embryology. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. p. 185. ISBN 0-683-30272-8.
- synd/1375 at Who Named It?