ductuli

Ductuli, the plural of ductulus, are small ducts found throughout the body that convey secretions from secretory units toward larger ducts or onto surfaces. The term is used in anatomical nomenclature to refer to diminutive ducts in various organs, and the exact structure and function of a ductulus can vary by context.

Typically, ductuli are lined by simple epithelial cells, often cuboidal or columnar, with a narrow lumen. Their walls may contain connective tissue and a layer of smooth muscle or myoepithelial cells in glandular regions. Some ductuli are ciliated, aiding the movement of fluid, while others lack cilia. Their histology generally reflects the needs of their transport role, balancing secretion, resorption, and propulsion of contents.

Ductuli are widespread in exocrine systems and related organs. Examples include the ductuli efferentes, a series of short ducts that connect the rete testis to the epididymis in the male reproductive tract; the ductuli biliferi (bile ductules) of the liver, which drain bile from canaliculi into larger intrahepatic ducts; and the ductuli pancreatici of the pancreas, which convey secretions toward the main pancreatic duct. In many glands, ductuli form part of the intricate network linking acini or secretory units to the main excretory ducts.

Clinical relevance arises when ductuli are obstructed, inflamed, or developmentally malformed, potentially impairing regional secretion or drainage. Disorders of ductal systems can lead to ductal dilation, cyst formation, or secondary tissue damage, depending on organ and context.