The epoophoron or epoöphoron (also called organ of RosenmüllerJ. C. Rosenmüller. De ovariis embryonum et foetuum humanorum. 1802. or the parovarium) is a remnant of the

mesonephric tubules Mesonephric tubules are genital ridges that are next to the mesonephros. In males, some of the mesonephric kidney tubules, instead of being used to filter blood like the rest, "grow" over to the developing testes, penetrate them, and become conne ...

that can be found next to the

ovary The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...

and

fallopian tube The fallopian tubes, also known as uterine tubes, oviducts or salpinges (singular salpinx), are paired tubes in the human female that stretch from the uterus to the ovaries. The fallopian tubes are part of the female reproductive system. In ot ...

Anatomy

It may contain 10–15 transverse small ducts or tubules that lead to the

Gartner’s duct Gartner's duct, also known as Gartner's canal or the ductus longitudinalis epoophori, is a potential embryological remnant in human female development of the mesonephric duct in the development of the urinary and reproductive organs. It was discov ...

(also longitudinal duct of epoophoron) that represents the caudal remnant of the

mesonephric duct The mesonephric duct (also known as the Wolffian duct, archinephric duct, Leydig's duct or nephric duct) is a paired Organ (anatomy), organ that forms during the embryonic development of humans and other mammals and gives rise to male Sex organ, r ...

and passes through the broad ligament and the lateral wall of the cervix and vagina. The epoophoron is a homologue to the

epididymis The epididymis (; plural: epididymides or ) is a tube that connects a testicle to a vas deferens in the male reproductive system. It is a single, narrow, tightly-coiled tube in adult humans, in length. It serves as an interconnection between the ...

in the male. While the epoophoron is located in the lateral portion of the

mesosalpinx The mesosalpinx is part of the lining of the abdominal cavity in higher vertebrates, specifically the portion of the broad ligament that stretches from the ovary to the level of the fallopian tube. See also * Mesometrium * Mesovarium * Salpinx i ...

and

mesovarium The mesovarium is the portion of the broad ligament of the uterus that suspends the ovaries. The ovary is not covered by the mesovarium; rather, it is covered by germinal epithelium. At first the mesonephros and genital ridge are suspended by a c ...

, the

paroophoron The paroophoron (of Johnson) consists of a few scattered rudimentary tubules, best seen in the child, situated in the broad ligament between the epoöphoron and the uterus. Named for the Welsh anatomist David Johnson who originally described the s ...

(residual remnant of that part of the

that forms the

paradidymis The term paradidymis (organ of Giraldés) 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 epitheliu ...

in the male) lies more medially in the mesosalpinx.

Histology

It has a unique histological profile.

Clinical significance

Clinically the organ may give rise to a local

paraovarian cyst Paraovarian cysts or paratubal cysts are epithelium-lined fluid-filled cysts in the adnexa adjacent to the fallopian tube and ovary. The terms are used interchangeably, and depend on the location of the cyst. Topic Completed: 1 July 2013. Minor c ...

adenoma An adenoma is a benign tumor of epithelial tissue with glandular origin, glandular characteristics, or both. Adenomas can grow from many glandular organs, including the adrenal glands, pituitary gland, thyroid, prostate, and others. Some adenom ...

References

External links

* * * {{Authority control Mammal female reproductive system