1. The pronephros develops from the intermediate mesoderm, as do the later kidneys. 2. In humans, the pronephros is just rudimentary, and undergoes rapid atrophy and disappears. 3. Pax2 and Pax8 are also necessary for the formation of the pronephros and subsequent kidney structures. 4. A secondary glomerulus is formed ventral to each of these, and the complete group constitutes the pronephros . 5. Despite this transient appearance in mammals, the pronephros is essential for the development of the adult kidneys. 6. Thus, the Wolffian duct is what remains of the pronephric duct after the atrophy of the pronephros . 7. In mammals a functional pronephros , in the context of an organ performing waste excretion or osmoregulation, does not develop. 8. The 1st phase is the pronephros , the 2nd phase is the mesonephros and the 3rd and final stage is the metanephros. 9. After false starts with pit vipers and squirrels, she completed a dissertation project on the embryonic development of the pronephros in fish. 10. This continues to grow caudalward until it opens into the ventral part of the cloaca; beyond the pronephros it is termed the Wolffian duct.
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