WOLFFIAN BODY Meaning and
Definition
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The Wolffian body, also known as the mesonephros, refers to an embryonic structure that develops in both male and female mammalian embryos, playing a vital role in the early stages of reproductive system development. It is named after Caspar Friedrich Wolff, a renowned embryologist of the 18th century.
The Wolffian body appears during the early stages of embryonic development, forming along the dorsal body wall just beneath the developing kidneys. It consists of a chain of tubules that grow in a cranio-caudal direction alongside the mesonephric duct, also known as the Wolffian duct. These tubules are responsible for the production and excretion of urine and facilitate the fluid transfer necessary for proper kidney function.
In male embryos, the Wolffian body further develops to give rise to the epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicles of the reproductive system. Conversely, in female embryos, as the reproductive system develops, the Wolffian body regresses and undergoes involution.
The Wolffian body is an essential component in the early stages of embryonic development as it assists in establishing the basic framework of the urinary and reproductive systems. Its formation and subsequent regression are tightly regulated by genetic and hormonal factors, ensuring proper sexual differentiation and subsequent functionality of the respective reproductive systems.
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Mesonephros, a transitory paired organ in the fetus, one on either side of the spinal column, composed of convoluted tubules opening into a duct discharging into the cloaca; it persists in the male as the epididymis, in the female as the parovarium.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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Etymology of WOLFFIAN BODY
The term "Wolffian body" is named after Caspar Friedrich Wolff, a German scientist and embryologist who lived from 1733 to 1794. Wolff made significant contributions to the field of developmental biology, particularly in understanding the early embryonic development of animals. One of his key discoveries was the identification of a structure called the "mesonephros" or "Wolffian body" in developing vertebrate embryos. This structure forms part of the early urinary and reproductive systems in organisms like fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. The term "Wolffian body" was coined to honor Caspar Friedrich Wolff's groundbreaking work in embryology.
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