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
The development of the urinary system begins during prenatal development, and relates to the development of the urogenital system – both the organs of the urinary system and the sex organs of the reproductive system. The development continues as ...
.
It was discovered and described in 1822 by
Hermann Treschow Gartner.
Gartner's duct is located in the
uterus
The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', : uteri or uteruses) or womb () is the hollow organ, organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans, that accommodates the embryonic development, embryonic and prenatal development, f ...
'
broad ligament. Its position is parallel with the lateral
uterine tube and lateral walls of
vagina
In mammals and other animals, the vagina (: vaginas or vaginae) is the elastic, muscular sex organ, reproductive organ of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vulval vestibule to the cervix (neck of the uterus). The #Vag ...
and
cervix
The cervix (: cervices) or cervix uteri is a dynamic fibromuscular sexual organ of the female reproductive system that connects the vagina with the uterine cavity. The human female cervix has been documented anatomically since at least the time ...
.
The paired mesonephric ducts in the
male
Male (Planet symbols, symbol: ♂) is the sex of an organism that produces the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, or Egg cell, ovum, in the process of fertilisation. A male organism cannot sexual repro ...
, in contrast, go on to form the paired
epididymides
The epididymis (; : epididymides or ) is an elongated tubular genital organ attached to the posterior side of each one of the two male reproductive glands, the testicles. It is a single, narrow, tightly coiled tube in adult humans, in length; ...
,
vasa deferentia,
ejaculatory ducts and
seminal vesicles.
In
females, they may persist between the layer of the
broad ligament of the uterus and in the wall of the
vagina
In mammals and other animals, the vagina (: vaginas or vaginae) is the elastic, muscular sex organ, reproductive organ of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vulval vestibule to the cervix (neck of the uterus). The #Vag ...
.
Clinical significance
These may give rise to
Gartner's duct cysts.
See also
*
List of homologues of the human reproductive system
References
External links
*
*
Mammal female reproductive system
Vestigial organs
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