gonad

[ goh-nad, gon-ad ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Anatomy.

gonad

/ ˈɡɒnæd; ɡɒˈneɪdɪəl /

gonad

/ gō′năd′ /

An organ in animals that produces reproductive cells (gametes). The ovary and testis are gonads.

go·nadal go·na·di·al [goh-, ney, -dee-, uh, l], go·nad·ic [goh-, nad, -ik], adjective

Origin of gonad¹

1875–80; < New Latin gonad- (stem of gonas ), equivalent to gon- gon- + -ad- -ad ¹

Origin of gonad¹

C19: from New Latin gonas, from Greek gonos seed

This fact led Cuvier erroneously to the belief that a duct existed leading from the gonad to this papilla.

The essential reproductive organ or gonad consists of both ovarian and testicular cells (see fig. 42).

It seems that the posterior nephridia are mainly gonad ducts, and the gonads are developed in close association with the funnels.

To this category will belong the oviducts in Teleostean fishes and probably the gonad ducts in several groups of invertebrates.

In some forms the kidney is closely associated with the gonad, and seems to coperate with the latter in the generative functions.

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