tube

anatomical tube

Any hollow cylindrical anatomical structure containing a lumen through which substances are transported.

On this page

Type	Organ
Parent Structure	anatomical conduit
Latin Name	anatomical tube

Sub-structures

bile duct Organ biliary ductule Organ cartilaginous external acoustic tube Organ cochlear duct of membranous labyrinth Organ crus commune Organ digestive tract Organ duct of salivary gland Gland duct of seminal vesicle Gland ductus reuniens Organ efferent duct Muscle ejaculatory duct Organ endolymphatic duct Organ endostylar duct Organ epididymis Organ epithelial tube Organ excretory tube Organ feather shaft Organ hypophyseal tube Organ male genital duct Organ Mullerian duct Bone nasolacrimal duct Organ oviduct Organ perilymphatic channel Bone peristaltic circulatory vessel Muscle respiratory tube Organ saccule duct Organ semicircular duct Organ seminiferous tubule of testis Organ thyroglossal duct Gland utricle duct Organ utriculosaccular duct Organ vas deferens Organ ventral pancreatic duct Gland vitelline duct Organ

Frequently Asked Questions

What defines an anatomical tube?

An anatomical tube is any hollow, cylindrical structure with an internal lumen (channel) through which fluids, gases, or other materials are transported. Examples span all organ systems: blood vessels, airways, the gastrointestinal tract, ureters, fallopian tubes, and renal tubules.

How are anatomical tubes structured at the histological level?

Most anatomical tubes share a layered wall organization: an innermost epithelial lining (mucosa or endothelium), a connective tissue layer (submucosa or adventitia), and often a muscular layer enabling peristalsis or vasomotion. The specific layers vary by organ system and functional requirements.

What mechanisms move substances through anatomical tubes?

Transport through anatomical tubes occurs via several mechanisms: hydrostatic pressure (blood vessels), peristalsis via smooth muscle contraction (gastrointestinal tract, ureters), ciliary action (airways, fallopian tubes), concentration gradients (renal tubules), and gravity-assisted flow (bile ducts, salivary ducts).

References

UBERON — UBERON:0000025 Cross-species anatomy ontology (EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service)

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Educational Disclaimer

This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical decisions.

Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.

tube

Sub-structures

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Structures

References

Medical Disclaimer

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