250 



K^otes on the Wolffian Body of Higher Mammals 



T_ _ 



-Tu. 



ward from the peritoneal cavity at the anterior end of the Wolffian 

 body to end blindly posteriorly. 



In a somewhat older embryo, CXXVIII (V. B. 20, N". B. 14, probable 

 age 11 weeks), there are distinct signs of retrogression in the Wolffian 

 body. There are 20 tubules on each side, while in younger embryos 

 as many as 30 were observed. The most anterior tubules possess a some- 

 what widened lumen, and the most posterior show signs of obliteration. 



Tubules half filled with cells 

 can be made out together with 

 the remains of glomeruli. Into 

 the anterior 8 or 9 Malpighian 

 bodies there is a' growth of 

 the testis tubules. The Bow- 

 man's capsule is broken 

 through by the testis tubules 

 and a connection thus estab- 

 lished between testis and epi- 

 didymis. This will be de- 

 scribed more in detail in pig's 

 embryo, where fresh material 

 allowed of its more exact 

 study. 



In embryo LXXXAH (V. B. 

 30, X. B. 20), there are 9 

 tubules and 12 glomeruli in 

 the left Wolffian body. It is 

 evident in this specimen that 

 the degeneration of tubules 

 progresses from the posterior 

 end of the organ forwards. 

 In another embryo, LXXV 

 (V. B. 30, X. B. 20), there can 

 be seen in the posterior half 

 of the organ only vestiges of tubules. The anterior end is somewhat 

 enlarged. The tubules here are considerable coiled, and the Malpighian 

 bodies are in close connection with the tubules of the testis. 



From the above notes, a rough idea of the course of development and 

 metamorphosis undergone by the Wolffian body in man can be arrived 

 at. The anterior tubules (pars sexualis) continue to increase in length 

 and complexity to form the head of the epididymis in the male, and the 

 parovarium in the female. The more posterior tubules (pars renalis) 





Fig. 5. Lougitudinal section of Wolffian body, 

 testis, and kidney, from human embryo CXLIV. 

 (V. B. 14, N. B. 13.) T., testis; Tu., Wolffian tu- 

 bule; Gm., glomerulus; K., kidney. 



