Ducts

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Ducts (Medicine)

Ducts (pronunciation: /dʌkts/) are a type of passage or conduit in the body through which fluids or other substances are transported. The term is derived from the Latin word 'ductus', meaning 'leading'.

Types of Ducts

There are several types of ducts in the human body, each serving a specific function. Some of the most important ones include:

  • Bile Ducts: These ducts carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine.
  • Lactiferous Ducts: These ducts transport milk from the mammary glands to the nipple.
  • Ejaculatory Ducts: These ducts carry sperm and seminal fluid from the prostate gland to the urethra.
  • Tear Ducts: These ducts carry tears from the eyes to the nasal cavity.

Function

The primary function of ducts is to transport substances from one part of the body to another. The substances transported can be fluids, such as bile or milk, or they can be cells, such as sperm. The structure and function of each type of duct is specialized according to the substance it transports.

Related Terms

  • Ductule: A small duct or duct-like structure.
  • Ductus Deferens: A duct that carries sperm from the testes to the urethra.
  • Ductus Arteriosus: A blood vessel in a developing fetus that bypasses pulmonary circulation by connecting the pulmonary artery directly to the ascending aorta.

External links

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