| ductus aberrantes | The superior or inferior diverticula of the epididymis. Synonym: ductuli aberrantes, aberrant ducts, ductus aberrantes, vasa aberrantes. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| ductus arteriosus | Before birth, the blood headed from the heart (via the pulmonary artery) for the lungs is shunted away from the lungs and returned to the greatest of arteries (the aorta). The shunt is through a short vessel called the ductus arteriosus. When the shunt is open, it is said to be patent (pronounced pa'tent). The patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) usually closes at or shortly after birth and blood is permtted from that moment on to course freely to the lungs. If the ductus stays open (patent), flow reverses and blood from the aorta is shunted into the pulmonary artery and recirculated through the lungs. The PDA may close later spontaneously (on its own) or need to be ligated (tied off) surgically. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ductus arteriosus, patent | Abnormal persistence of an open lumen in the ductus arteriosus after birth, the direction of flow being from the aorta to the pulmonary artery, resulting in recirculation of arterial blood through the lungs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ductus biliferi | The excretory ducts of the liver that connect the interlobular ductules to the right (or left) hepatic duct. Synonym: ductuli biliferi, canalicular ducts, ductus biliferi, tubuli biliferi. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ductus caroticus | A portion of the embryonic dorsal aorta between points of juncture with the third and fourth arch arteries; it disappears early in development. Synonym: carotid duct. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ductus choledochus | <anatomy> A duct that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum (first part of the small intestine). (27 Sep 1997) |
| ductus cochlearis | Spiral tube in the bony canal of the cochlea, lying on its outer wall between the scala vestibuli and scala tympani. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ductus cysticus | <anatomy> A bile duct that connects the gallbladder to the common bile duct. A gallstone that blocks the cystic duct can lead to inflammation and infection of the gallbladder. See: common bile duct. (27 Sep 1997) |
| ductus deferens | The secretory duct of the testicle, running from the epididymis, of which it is the continuation, to the prostatic urethra where it terminates as the ejaculatory duct. Synonym: deferent canal, deferent duct, spermatic duct, spermiduct, testicular duct, vas deferens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ductus deferens vestigialis | A rudimentary vestige of the mesonephric duct in the female into which the tubules of the epoophoron open; it is located in the broad ligament of the uterus, parallel with the lateral part of the uterine tube, and in the lateral walls of the cervix and vagina. Synonym: ductus epoophori longitudinalis, ductus deferens vestigialis, Gartner's canal, Gartner's duct. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ductus dorsopancreaticus | The excretory duct of the head of the pancreas, one branch of which joins the pancreatic duct, the other opening independently into the duodenum at the lesser duodenal papilla. Synonym: ductus pancreaticus accessorius, Bernard's canal, Bernard's duct, ductus dorsopancreaticus, Santorini's canal, Santorini's duct. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ductus ejaculatorius | The duct formed by the union of the deferent duct and the excretory duct of the seminal vesicle, which opens into the prostatic urethra. Synonym: ductus ejaculatorius, spermiduct. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ductus endolymphaticus | Duct connecting the endolymphatic sac with the membranous labyrinth. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ductus epididymidis | A convoluted tube into which the efferent ductules open and which itself terminates in the ductus deferens. Synonym: ductus epididymidis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ductus epoophori longitudinalis | A rudimentary vestige of the mesonephric duct in the female into which the tubules of the epoophoron open; it is located in the broad ligament of the uterus, parallel with the lateral part of the uterine tube, and in the lateral walls of the cervix and vagina. Synonym: ductus epoophori longitudinalis, ductus deferens vestigialis, Gartner's canal, Gartner's duct. (05 Mar 2000) |