Lab 16 Male Reproductive System: 1) Index 2) Introduction 3) Things to Identify 4) The Testes 5)Tubuli Recti and Rete Testes 6) Efferent ducts and Ductus Epididymis 7) Ductus Deferens 8)Seminal Vesicle 9) Prostate Gland 10) Penis 11) Practical

 

Ductus Deferens

 

# 167 - Epididymis, human, h.-e., 1.5 mm, sec.

# 168 - Ductus deferens, human, h.-e., 1.5 mm, sec.

# 231 - Testis, epididymis, mature, iron hematoxylin

If needed, # 169 - Ductus deferens, human

# 230 - Ductus deferens, h.-e.

 

The duct of the epididymis enlarges into the ductus deferens, which is convoluted only in its upper regions. The lumen of the vas deferens (as it is also called) is relatively small in relationship to its thick walls due to the presence of layers of muscle. The mucosa is thrown into several folds. The epithelium consists of pseudostratified cells with some stereocilia. The epithelium may be rather irregular in height.

The muscularis consists of 3 layers: a thin internal layer of smooth muscle, a thick circular layer and a thick external muscular layer. The internal and external layers have the smooth muscle cells arranged longitudinally. The middle circular layer is loosely arranged. It contains intermingled longitudinal bundles of smooth muscle. What is the function of the thick muscularis of the ductus deferens?

REFERENCES: Gartner, pp. 372 - 373, Fig. 2, Fig. 2 Ross, p. 660, pp. 672 - 673 DiFiore, p. 284 - 285 Wheater, p. 331

 

This is a low power image of the Ductus Deferens or Vas Deferens. Notice the Stellate shaped lumen that is a characteristic of the duct (red arrow), along with the very thick smooth muscle walls indicated by the blue arrows.

Red arrow - Stellate Shaped Lumen Of Vas Deferens

Blue arrow - Thick Muscular wall of Vas Deferens

 

 

 

 

This is another view of the Vas deferens using a different stain to show the 3 layers of muscle that surround the vas deferens. The three layers are the innermost Inner longitudinal layer, (white arrow), the Middle Circular (blue arrows), and Outer Longitudinal Layer (red arrow).

White arrow - Inner longitudinal Layer

Blue arrow - Middle Circular Layer

Red arrow - Outer longitudinal Layer

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a close look at the epithelium of the Vas Deferens. It is composed of a Psuedostratified epithelium with Stereo Cilia, indicated by the blue arrows. That is how you can tell this apart with the other stellate lumen structures. This one has a Psuedostratified look.

Blue arrows - Psuedostratified Epithelium of Vas deferens

 

 

 

Vas Deferens (Stellate Lumen)

Vas Deferens (Muscle Layers)

Vas Deferens (epithelium)