Gartner's duct

Gartner's duct (also known as the mesonephric duct) is a structure present during the embryonic development of mammals, including humans. It is named after Danish physician Hans Gartner who first described it in the 19th century.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The term "Gartner's duct" is derived from the name of the Danish physician Hans Gartner who first described this structure. The term "mesonephric duct" comes from the Greek words "mesos" (middle), "nephros" (kidney), and "ductus" (a leading). Thus, "mesonephric duct" can be translated as "the duct leading to the middle kidney".

Development[edit | edit source]

In the early stages of embryonic development, the mesonephros serves as the intermediate kidney, and the Gartner's duct is the tube that connects this temporary kidney to the cloaca, the primitive common outlet for urinary, reproductive, and intestinal tracts. In males, the mesonephric duct goes on to develop into the vas deferens and seminal vesicles. In females, most of the duct degenerates, but parts of it can give rise to a number of structures, including the epoophoron, paroophoron, and Gartner's cysts.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

In some cases, parts of the Gartner's duct may not completely degenerate in females and can give rise to Gartner's duct cysts. These are typically benign and asymptomatic, but in some cases, they can cause discomfort or other symptoms and may require treatment.

References[edit | edit source]

Gartner's duct Resources
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