The epoophoron or epoöphoron (also called organ of RosenmüllerJ. C. Rosenmüller. De ovariis embryonum et foetuum humanorum. 1802. or the parovarium; : epoophora) is a 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 that develops in the early stages of embryonic development in humans and other mammals. It is an important structure that pl ...

that can be found next to the

ovary The ovary () is a gonad in the female reproductive system that produces ova; when released, an ovum travels through the fallopian tube/ oviduct into the uterus. There is an ovary on the left and the right side of the body. The ovaries are end ...

and

fallopian tube The fallopian tubes, also known as uterine tubes, oviducts or salpinges (: salpinx), are paired tubular sex organs in the human female body that stretch from the Ovary, ovaries to the uterus. The fallopian tubes are part of the female reproduct ...

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 dis ...

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

s 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 (; : 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; ...

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 The fallopian tubes, also known as uterine ...

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 ...

, the

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

(residual remnant of that part of the mesonephric duct that forms the

paradidymis The term paradidymis (: paradidymides; 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 c ...

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 epithelium, epithelial tissue with glandular origin, glandular characteristics, or both. Adenomas can grow from many glandular organ (anatomy), organs, including the adrenal glands, pituitary gland, thyroid, prosta ...

References

External links

* * * {{Authority control Mammal female reproductive system Vestigial organs

Anatomy

Histology

Clinical significance

See also

References

External links