What is the Difference Between Mullerian Duct and Wolffian Duct

The key difference between mullerian duct and wolffian duct is that mullerian duct is an embryonic structure that forms the internal genitalia of females, while wolffian duct is an embryonic structure that forms the internal genitalia of males.

A reproductive organ is any part of an animal that is involved in sexual reproduction. Ultimately, the reproductive organs make up the reproductive system. In animals, testis in the males and the ovary in the female are called primary sex organs. All other parts of the reproductive system are called secondary sex organs. Secondary sex organs are divided into two types as internal sex organs (internal genitalia) and external sex organs (external genitalia). Mullerian duct and wolffian duct are two embryonic structures that form the internal genitalia of females and males, respectively.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Mullerian Duct 
3. What is Wolffian Duct
4. Similarities – Mullerian Duct and Wolffian Duct
5. Mullerian Duct vs Wolffian Duct in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Mullerian Duct vs Wolffian Duct

What is Mullerian Duct?

Mullerian duct is an embryonic structure that forms the internal genitalia of females. In females, the mullerian duct will develop to form the fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and upper one-third of the vagina. Mullerian duct is also known as the paramesonephric duct. Mullerian ducts are paired ducts of the embryo that run down the lateral sides of the urogenital ridge. They terminate at the sinus tubercle in the primitive urogenital sinus.

Mullerian ducts are present on the embryo of both sexes. They develop into reproductive organs only in females. Mullerian ducts degenerate in the males of certain species. The development of Mullerian ducts into reproductive organs is under the tight control of Mullerian inhibiting factor (anti-mullerian hormone-AMH). It is a glycoprotein that is secreted by sustentacular cells in males as they begin their morphological differentiation in response to SRY protein expression. The absence of this factor results in the development of mullerian ducts into the fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and upper portion of the vagina. Furthermore, a mutation in AMH genes or AMH genes receptors causes a disease called persistent mullerian duct syndrome in males. On the other hand, mullerian ducts anomalies cause uterine and vagina agenises and duplication of unwanted cells of the uterus and vagina in females.

What is Wolffian Duct?

Wolffian duct is a paired organ that forms during the embryonic development of humans and other mammals. It gives rise to male reproductive organs known as internal genitalia. Wolffian duct is also known as the mesonephric duct.

In males, the wolffian duct develops into a system of connected organs between the efferent ducts of the testes and prostrate, namely epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicle. The prostrate is normally formed from the urogenital sinus. On the other hand, efferent ducts are formed from mesonephric tubules. For the above process, it is critical that the wolffian ducts are exposed to testosterone during embryogenesis. This is because testosterone binds to the androgen receptor and activates it, affecting intracellular signals very important for the above process. Moreover, testosterone also modifies the expression of numerous genes that are very important for wolffian duct development to internal genitalia. In females, the absence of anti mullerian hormone secretion by sertoli cells regresses the development of the wolffian duct. However, in both males and females, the wolffian duct develops into the trigone of the urinary bladder.

What are the Similarities Between Mullerian Duct and Wolffian Duct?

• Mullerian duct and wolffian duct form the internal genitalia of females and males.
• They are two embryonic structures.
• Both ducts are present in females as well as males during embryogenesis.
• Their development to internal genitalia is tightly controlled by the presence and absence of anti-mullerian hormone.
• They are very important for the reproduction function of females and males.

What is the Difference Between Mullerian Duct and Wolffian Duct?

The Mullerian duct is an embryonic structure that forms the internal genitalia of females, while the Wolffian duct is an embryonic structure that forms the internal genitalia of males. Thus, this is the key difference between Mullerian duct and Wolffian duct.

The below infographic presents the differences between Mullerian duct and Wolffian duct in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Mullerian Duct vs Wolffian Duct

Mullerian duct and wolffian duct form the internal genitalia of females and males. They are two embryonic structures that are important in making certain parts of the reproductive system of females and males. Mullerian duct forms the internal genitalia such as fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and upper portion of the vagina in females, while wolffian duct forms the internal genitalia such as epididymis, vas deferens, and seminal vesicle in males. So, this is the key difference between mullerian duct and wolffian duct.

Reference:

1. Wilson, Danielle. “Embryology, Mullerian Ducts (Paramesonephric Ducts).” StatPearls. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. “Wolffian Duct.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Gray1109” By Henry Vandyke Carter – Henry Gray (1918) Anatomy of the Human Body. Bartleby.com: Gray's Anatomy, Plate 1109 (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Sexual differentiation in humans” By Jonathan. Marcus – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia