Paradidymis

Paradidymis
Details
Precursor Mesonephric tubules[1]
Latin Paradidymis

Anatomical terminology

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.

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 the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ↑ Fix, James D.; Dudek, Ronald W. (1998). Embryology. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. p. 185. ISBN 0-683-30272-8.
  2. ↑ synd/1375 at Who Named It?
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