Efferent ducts
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
| Efferent ducts | |
|---|---|
| Schematic drawing of testicle and epididymis. 1 Tunica albuginea, 2 Septula testis, 3 Lobulus testis, 4 Mediastinum testis, 5 Tubuli seminiferi contorti, 6 Tubuli seminiferi recti, 7 Rete testis, 8 Ductuli efferentes testis, 9 Ductus epididymidis, 10 initial part of deferent duct | |
 | |
| Vertical section of the testis, to show the arrangement of the ducts. (Labeled as vasa efferentia as top center.) | |
| Latin | ductuli efferentes testis |
| Gray's | subject #258 1244 |
| Precursor | Wolffian duct |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | d_29/12314687 |
The efferent ducts (or efferent ductules or ductuli efferentes) connect the rete testis with the initial section of the epididymis.
There are two basic designs for efferent ductule structure:
- a) multiple entries into the epididymis, as seen in most large mammals. In humans and other large mammals, there are approximately 15-20 efferent ducts, which also occupy nearly one third of the head of the epididymis.
- b) single entry, as seen in most small animals such as rodents, whereby the 3-6 ductules merge into a single small ductule prior to entering the epididymis.
The ductuli are unilaminar and composed of columnar ciliated and non-ciliated (absorptive) cells. The ciliated cells serve to stir the luminal fluids, possibly to help ensure homogeneous absorption of water from the fluid produced by the testis, which results in an increase in the concentration of luminal sperm. The epithelium is surrounded by a band of smooth muscle that helps to propel the sperm toward the epididymis.
Additional images
 |
External links
- Organology at UC Davis Reproductive/mammal/testis0/testis4 - "Mammal, testis overview"
- SUNY Labs 36:10-0100 - "Inguinal Region, Scrotum and Testes: Reflection of the Head of the Epididymis"
- Histology at BU 16903loa
- Diagram/Quiz (cancer.gov)
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
