Mesonephros

(Redirected from Wolffian bodies)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Infobox Embryology

WikiDoc Resources for Mesonephros

Articles

Most recent articles on Mesonephros

Most cited articles on Mesonephros

Review articles on Mesonephros

Articles on Mesonephros in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Mesonephros

Images of Mesonephros

Photos of Mesonephros

Podcasts & MP3s on Mesonephros

Videos on Mesonephros

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Mesonephros

Bandolier on Mesonephros

TRIP on Mesonephros

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Mesonephros at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Mesonephros

Clinical Trials on Mesonephros at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Mesonephros

NICE Guidance on Mesonephros

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Mesonephros

CDC on Mesonephros

Books

Books on Mesonephros

News

Mesonephros in the news

Be alerted to news on Mesonephros

News trends on Mesonephros

Commentary

Blogs on Mesonephros

Definitions

Definitions of Mesonephros

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Mesonephros

Discussion groups on Mesonephros

Patient Handouts on Mesonephros

Directions to Hospitals Treating Mesonephros

Risk calculators and risk factors for Mesonephros

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Mesonephros

Causes & Risk Factors for Mesonephros

Diagnostic studies for Mesonephros

Treatment of Mesonephros

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Mesonephros

International

Mesonephros en Espanol

Mesonephros en Francais

Business

Mesonephros in the Marketplace

Patents on Mesonephros

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Mesonephros

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]


Overview

The mesonephros (Latin for "middle kidney") is one of three excretory organs that develop in vertebrates. It serves as the main excretory organ of aquatic vertebrates and as a temporary kidney in higher vertebrates. The mesonephros is included in the Wolffian body after Caspar Friedrich Wolff who described it in 1759. (The Wolffian body is composed of : mesonephros + paramesonephrotic blastema)

Structure

The mesonephros is composed of the mesonephric duct (also called the Wolffian duct), mesonephric tubules, and associated capillary tufts. A single tubule and its associated capillary tuft is called a mesonephric excretory unit; these units are similar in structure and function to nephrons of the adult kidney. The mesonephros is derived from intermediate mesoderm in the vertebrate embryo.

Differences between males and females

In human males, the mesonephros gives rise to the efferent ductules of the testis, the epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle, and vestigial structures such as the appendix testis, appendix epididymis, and paradidymis.

The mesonephros largely regresses in human females, though vestigial structures such as Gartner's cysts, the epoophoron, and paroophoron are common.

Differences among species

The mesonephros persists and form the permanent kidneys in fishes and amphibians, but in reptiles, birds, and mammals, it atrophies and for the most part disappears rapidly as the permanent kidney (metanephros) develops begins during the sixth or seventh week, so that by the beginning of the fifth month only the ducts and a few of the tubules of the mesonephros remain.

Additional images

See also


Template:WikiDoc Sources