Wolffian duct

English

Etymology

Named after German physiologist Caspar Friedrich Wolff (1733–1794), who described the mesonephros and its ducts in his dissertation in 1759.

Noun

Wolffian duct (plural Wolffian ducts)

1. (embryology) A paired structure found in mammals including humans that develops in the early stages of embryonic development and plays a critical role in the formation of internal male reproductive organs; precursor to the vasa deferentia, seminal vesicles, and epididymides.

   Synonym: mesonephric duct

   Coordinate term: Müllerian duct

Translations

paired structure that develops in the early stages of embryonic development

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 沃爾夫管／沃尔夫管 (Wò'ěrfū guǎn)

• Finnish: Wolffin tiehyt
• French: canal de Wolff m
• German: Urnierengang m
• Hungarian: Wolff-cső
• Italian: dotto di Wolff m
• Japanese: please add this translation if you can
• Portuguese: ducto de Wolff m
• Russian: please add this translation if you can
• Spanish: conducto de Wolff m
• Ukrainian: please add this translation if you can

Further reading

• “Wolffian duct”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.