It is usually regarded as a detached efferent duct.

The efferent ducts, which are ordinarily much coiled, are of substantial length (Fig.

In humans and other large mammals, there are approximately 15-20 efferent ducts, which also occupy nearly one third of the head of the epididymis.

In males, ERα protein is found in the epithelium of the efferent ducts.

The prostate forms from the urogenital sinus and the efferent ducts form from the mesonephric tubules.

The efferent ducts are devoid of muscles, flexible, and resistant to compression; their outer surface is characteristically sculpted (Fig.

In reptiles, there is an additional canal between the testis and the head of the epididymis and which receives the various efferent ducts.

The efferent ducts and seminiferous tubules of the testes are also impacted by backpressure, leading to an increase in area and thickness.

The head of the epididymis receives spermatozoa via the efferent ducts of the mediastinum of the testis.

(B) Detail of efferent duct (the sculpting is of the cuticular wall; the duct lacks intrinsic muscles).

(A) Teased-out secretory cell aggregate, showing the clusters of cells and their respective drainage tubes, which converge to form the efferent duct (not shown).

Via the rete testis, the seminiferous tubules become connected with outgrowths from the mesonephros, which form the efferent ducts of the testis.

His personal contributions include the description of testicular tubules, the efferent ducts, corpora lutea and to describe the function of the Fallopian tubes and hydrosalpinx.

In the male the Wolffian duct persists, and forms for example the epididymis, the ductus deferens, the ejaculatory duct, seminal vesicle and efferent ducts.

The efferent ducts (or efferent ductules or ductuli efferentes or ductus efferentes) connect the rete testis with the initial section of the epididymis.

It is a single, narrow, tightly-coiled tube (in adult humans, six to seven meters in length) connecting the efferent ducts from the rear of each testicle to its vas deferens.

In a male, it develops into a system of connected organs between the efferent ducts of the testis and the prostate, namely the epididymis, the vas deferens, and the seminal vesicle.

(more ...) Each secretory cell aggregate, when teased apart, is revealed to consist of a number of cell clusters, linked by drainage tubes that merge to form the efferent duct (Fig.

Each gland consists of a dense aggregate of secretory cells, an efferent duct that drains these, a kidney-shaped sac in which secretion is stored, and an ejaculatory duct through which the secretion is discharged.