Pharyngeal pouches

Endoderm derivative

Formation of the pharynx:

Oropharyngeal membrane- respiratory diverticulum
4th and 5th week: pharyngeal arches (5), pouches (4) and clefts
(4) form
Pharyngeal arches- mesoderm, clefts- ectoderm, pouchesendoderm

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th

Main derivatives of pharyngeal pouches

Pharyngeal pouch
Main derivative
Tubotympanic recess, middle ear
cavity, auditory tube (external
acoustic canal) and tubal tonsil
Palatine, pharyngeal and lingual
tonsils
Dorsal: inferior parathyroids
Ventral: thymus gland
Dorsal: superior parathyroids
Ultimobranchial body
parafollicular (C) cells which
produce calcitonin

Arch

Products

Innervation

Muscles of
mastication,ant
diagastric
andmylohyoid,
mandible bone

CNV

Facial
expression
muscles, post
diagastric,
platysma,
stylohyoid

CNVII

Stylopharyngeus

CNIX

Soft palate and

cricothyroid

CNX (sup
laryngeal)

Intrinsic and
internal muscles
of the larynx

CNX (recurrent
laryngeal)

CV embryology

Mesoderm derivative
Dorsal aorta develop either side of the midline
3 steps to heart formation:
1. Heart tube formation (from dorsal aortas)
2. Cardiac looping
3. Cardiac septation

Heart tube formation + cardiac looping

1. Heart tubes fuse Single heart tube
2. Heart tube has an inner endothelial lining and outer
myocardial lining

3. Outer surface of heart tube becomes invested in mesodermal

lining visceral pericardium
4. At prox. and distal ends of heart tube the future great vessels
attach
5. Heart tube elongates
6. Bends cardiac loop
7. Heart tube initially consists of a single primitive atrial portion
(below) and primitive ventricular portion (above)
8. Between the ventricle and arterial flow = bulbus cordis gives
rise to right ventricle
9. Primitive ventricle Left ventricle
10.
Bending occurs at two places: bulboventricular groove
and atrioventricular groove
11.
Bulbus cordis conus cordis leads onto the truncus
arteriosus
12.
Truncus arteriosus prox. part of aorta + pulmonary
trunk
13.
Proximal 1/3 bulbus cordis + future R ventricle
become connected
Septation of the heart tube
1. Atria: Septation begins
2. Secondary foramen between the two atria (no closure of
septum) foramen ovale (flap like valve) allows shunting
during foetal circulation
3. Therefore the pressure on R side of heart = high
Septum formation in the ventricle
1. Ventricles ^ size
2. Ventricular wall becomes remodelled
3. Tissue develops from floor endocardial tissue L + R
ventricles separate

Origins of the heart chambers

Chamber
LA
RA
LV
RV

Origin
4 primitive pulmonary vessels
Primitive atrium + sinus venosus
(right horn)
Primitive ventricle
Bulbous cordis

SAN
AVN + bundle
Pulmonary trunk
Aorta
Pericardium

Sinus venosus
AV canal
Bulbous cordis
Truncus arteriosus
Septum transversum

Development of the arterial system/Aortic arches

N.b. no 5th arch
R + L dorsal aortas join descending aorta (L) and on R
become distal art of R subclavian
Aortic arch
1st arch
2nd arch
3rd arch
4th arch
6th arch
7th segmental
artery

Left

Right

Maxillary artery
Stapedial artery
L + R common carotid, external carotid +
proximal part of the internal carotid arteries*
Contributes to the arch
Proximal part of the
of the aorta
R subclavian
Proximal parts of dorsal pair
L subclavian
Part of R subclavian

*Distal part of the internal carotid artery forms from the L + R dorsal
aortas (connected via the paired aortic arches and aortic sac in the
middle)
Therefore asymmetry in 3, 4 and 6 arches
1. CV derived from mesoderm and some neural crest cells in
the ectoderm
2. Heart fields:
1. Found at the cranial end of the embryo
2. Primary: will develop in L&R atria and L ventricle,
some RV
3. Secondary: RV and outflow tract
4. Migrate and laterally fold to form bilateral paired
strands, fuse to form a single heart tube- controlled
by regulatory genes and transcription factors
5. Day 20 heart tube forms, day 22 heart beat

2.

3. Repositioning of the cardiogenic fields

Cranio-caudal folding: swings the heart into a pocket in the

neck of the embryo with the inflow at tail and outflow
towards head, heart tube suspended by connective tissue:
Dorsal mesocardium
Differential growth causes the heart to be displaced into
the chest.
After fusion of the heart fields constrictions and dilatations
appear creating:
Truncus arteriosus (pul art and aorta)
Conus cordis (outflow tracts of both V)
Bulbus cordis (RV, early embryonic LV, primitive atria)
Sinus venosus (vitelline, umbilical, common cardinal veinsgreat veins)
This is induced by a hormone called nodal which aids
cardiac development and induces leftwards looping

3. Cardiac looping
1. The straight heart tube elongated with growth from the bulbus
cordis and primitive V
2. This forces the heart to bend ventrally and rotate forming a C
loop
3. The bulbus cordis moves down and right
4. The primitive atria + sinus venosus move back and up
5. The atria then bulge to form the primitive L and R atria

4. Cardiac septation

Prior to this the heart is one A/V

Occurs at day 27-37
Atrial septation: The septum primeum forms and induces the
formation of a septum secundum which stays open slightly
forming the foramen ovale
Outflow septation: ridges form in the truncus arteriosus and
conus cordis which then twist and divide to for the L and R
ventricular outflow
Ventricle: the medial v walls and endocardial cushions form
the septum

5. Vasculogenesis
Day 17- formation of blood islands in the extraembryonic
mesoderm, derived from a core of haemoblasts
Day 18 Vascularisation of the yolk sac and stalk
Angioblastic cords of mesoderm form
Added to by angiogensis, driven by growth factor,
proliferation and sprouting
The aortic ends of primitive heart tube become the aortic
arches and dorsal aortae
Ventral branches to the GI
Lat to retroperitoneal organs
Intersegmental to the rest of the body

Development of the aortic arches

1st maxillary
2nd- stapedial
3rd common carotids
4th right- R subclavian, L- Aorta
6th pulmonary arteries
Dorsal aorta- descending thoracic aorta

Foetal circulation

At birth: 02 causes pulmonary vasoconstriction

Tissue resistance reduces
Vasoconstriction of DA,UA
Closure of foramen ovale

Respiratory embryology
Lung formation
1. a longitudinal groove develops in the entodermal lining of
the floor of the pharynx= laryntracheal groove
The lining of the larynx, trachea, bronchi and epithelium
develop from this groove
2. The margins of the groove fuse and form the
laryngotracheal tube. The fusion process starts distally so that
the lumen becomes separated from the oesophageus
Just behind the developing tongue will be a small opening that
will become the permanent laryngeal opening
The laryngotracheal tube grows caudally into the splanchnic
mesoderm eventually lying ant to the oeso
3. The tube divides distally into L and R lung buds
Cartilage develops so that the upper part becomes the larynx
and the lower trachea
Each lung bud consists of an entodermal tube surrounded by
splanchnic mesoderm- from this lung tissue is derived
The buds then divide into the bronchi and lobes
Further divisions create bronchioles and alveoli
4. Each lung will receive a covering of visceral pleura derived
from mesoderm. The parietal pleura originates from the
somatic mesoderm
By the 7th week sufficient blood networks will have developed
to support life

Stages of development
Embryonic- 0-5 weeks
By the 5th week the lung buds have divided into
L and R
1= foregut
2= oesophagotracheal septum
3= respiratory diverticulum

Pseudoglandular- 5-17 weeks

Exocrine gland only- major structural units
formed
Angiogenesis nests
Major airways defined
Smaller airways down to resp bronchioles
Lung fluid

Cannalicular- 17-25 weeks

Distal architecture
Vascularisation- formation of the capillary bed
Alveolar ducts- terminal sacs
Terminal bronchioles

Alveolar- 25+
Alveolar sacs
Type 1 & 2 cells
Alveoli simple with thick interstitium
Alveolar budding and thinning with
complexification
RDS happens here

1. Lungs begin as an endodermal outpouching of the foregut

(respiratory diverticulum)
2. Diverticulum separates from the foregut trachea (caudal
part still connected = larynx + laryngopharynx)
3. 2 lung buds develop each side

4. L lung bud 2 buds (lobes) and R lung bud 3 buds (3

lobes)
5. Each lung bud divides many times to form the bronchiole tree
( alveoli)
6. Further divisions of the bronchiole tree occur after birth (10
years)
7. At 6 months T2 pneumocytes form surfactant
Foetal circulation
Umbilical vein oxygenated
Umbilical artery deoxygenated
The goal is to BIPASS the lung
How?
1. R atrium L atrium shunt (foramen ovale)
2. Ductus arteriosus (linked to ligamentum arteriosus)
anastomose pulmonary artery proximal descending aorta
3. Ductus venosus shunts left umbilical vein IVC
N.B. Oxygenated blood bypasses liver

Placenta- umbillical v- ductus venosus- IVC- RA- ductus

arteriosus + foramen ovale- aorta
First breath: Adrenaline stress causes inc surfactant release
Air inhaled
O2 vasodilates pul art
Umbillical art constrict
Foramen ovale shuts
Surfactant:
Produced by type 2 pneumocytes from 34 weeks
Deficiency due to prem, RDS, loss of lung vol, uneven airation

First breath
1. Vagina squeezes fluid out of lungs
2. Adrenaline ^ surfactant (T2 pneumocyte)
3. Lungs expand
4. O2 vasodilates pulmonary artery
5. O2 constricts umbilical artery + ductus arteriosus
6. High pressure at L atrium closes foramen ovale ovale fossa

There is a shift in the Pulmonary artery pressure w/ the aortic

pressure
Systemic blood vessels

Deliver O to hypoxic tissues

Hypoxia/acidosis/CO2= vasodilator
O= vasoconstrictor
Hypoxia- vasodilation- inc perfusion- improved oxygenation

Pulmonary vessels
Pick up O from oxygenated lung
Hypoxia/acidosis= vasodilator
O- vasodilation- inc perfusion- more O delivery

GI embryology
Foregut

Oropharyngeal
membrane to liver
bud

Celiac artery

Pharynx,
oesophagu
stomach, proxi
of duodenum,
biliary appara
pancreas

Midgut

Liver bud to rt 2/3

transverse colon

Superior mesenteric
artery

Distal o
duodenum, jeju
ileum, caecu
appendix, asce
colon, right 2/3
colon

Hindgut

L 1/3 transverse
colon to cloacal
membrane

Inferior mesenteric
artery

Left 1/3 transv

colon, descen
colon, sigmo
rectum, anal c

Development of the oesophagus

In development of the lungs a tracheoesophageal septum

gradually forms separating the diverticulum form the dorsal
part of the foregut

At the beginning the oeso is short but it lengthens rapidly

with the descent of the heart and lungs
A muscular coat develops from the mesenchyme- upper
2/3- striated
lower 1/3 smooth

Development of mesenteries

By the 5th week the lower part of the foregut, midgut and
major hindgut are suspended from the post abdo wall by the
dorsal mesentery
It extends from the lower oeso to the cloacal memb
Ventral mesentery- present only in the foregut, derived from
the septum transversum. Its free lower margin contains the
hepatic art, portal v and bile duct
The liver develops into it and divides it into the lesser
omentum and the falciform

Development of the stomach

The stomach develops as a dilatation of the foregut

It has a ventral and dorsal mesentery
V active growth takes place along the dorsal border forming
the greater curvature
The fundus appears as a dilatation at the upper end
The stomach rotates 90 clockwise around its longitudinal axis
so L side ant becomes R side post, this also changes the
nerves to that L vagus ant and RV post
During the rotation the origional post wall grows faster than
the ant- development of the greater and lesser curvatures
The pyloric end moves Rup and cardiac end L down

Dorsal mesentery

Ventral mesentery

Liver

Development of the duodenum

Proximal- foregut, distal- midgut, junction between- ampulla of

vater
During rotation of the foregut the duodenum changes to a C
shaped loop and rotates and swings to the R side of the body
The head of the pancreas fills the gap of the C
The ligament of treitz fixes the duo and pancreas in a
retroperitoneal position to the r side of the midline
1st inch- intraperitoneal

Formation of the lesser sac (omental bursa)

Longitudinal rotation of the stomach pulls the dorsal

mesentery to the left, creating a space behind the stomach
At the same time the ant mesentery is pulled to the right
The spleen develops as a mesodermal proliferation in the
left layer of the dorsal mesentery of the stomach
This dorsal mesentery lengthens and swings left to fuse
with the peritoneum of the post abdo wall
The spleen gets connected to the abdo wall by the
lienorenal ligament and to the stomach by the gastrolienal
lig

Positioning of the pancreas

Lengthening and fusion of the dorsal mesentery of stomach

and duodenum to the post abdo wall determines the
positioning of the pancreas
It develops in both mesenteries and becomes
retroperitoneal behind the lesser sac
When the duodenum rotates the ventral bud is moved
dorsally so that the buds lie together
They fuse and fix
The ventral bud forms the unicate process and the inf part
of the head, the dorsal bud creates the rest

Development of the midgut

Suspended to post abdo wall by dorsal mes

Connected to the yolk sac by the vitelline duct
Supplied by the sup mes art

1. Elongation
Rapid elongation takes place to form the primary intestinal loop
The cephalic limb (prox) develops into the distal duodenum, jejunum
and part of ileum
The caudal limb (dist) develops into the lower ileum, caecum ,
appendix, asc colon and r 2/3 transverse

2. Umbilical herniation
During the 6th week the loop of the midgut rapidly elongates again.
This, plus the enlargement of the liver, makes the abdo cavity too
small so the midgut is pushed through into the extraembyronic
cavity via the umbilical cord
3. Stage of rotation
The midgut loop rotates 90 during herniation and 180 during its
return. Elongation of the SI continues producing coils
4. Retraction
During the 10th week the jejunum is the first part to return- goes to
the left side, followed by the coiled loops. The caecal bud is the last
part to return and settles below the r lobe of the liver. Fixation of the
hepatic flexure brings everything into place and the caecum down
5. Fixation
During this stage some parts lose their dorsal mesentery. They are
now in a retroperitoneal position and being fixed to the post abdo
wall by a single layer of peritoneum.
Fixed retroperitoneal: duodenum, asc/desc colon
Maintain mesentery: jej, ileum, caecum, appendix, trans colon ,
sigmoid
By the 20th week the yolk sac disappears into the duct

Cloacal and oropharyngeal membranes

Oro- located at the cranial end of the embryonic disc,
consists of tight ectoderm and endoderm, no mesoderm
Cloacal- caudal end, no mesoderm

Endoderm primitive gut tube

Midgut is connected to the yolk sac via the vitelline duct

Boundaries of the foregut, midgut and hindgut

Foregut: mouth 2nd part of duodenum (opening of major papilla)
Midgut: 2nd part of duodenum (opening of major papilla) 2/3 way
along transverse colon
Hindgut: 2/3 way along transverse colon anus
Development of the stomach
1. Starts as cylindrical tube
2. Has dorsal and ventral mesentery (unique characteristic of
foregut)
3. 90 degree clockwise rotation
4. Uneven growth greater + lesser curvatures (initial posterior
wall grows quicker than ventral wall)
5. When the stomach rotates the dorsal and ventral mesenteries
become left + right respectively
6. The initial dorsal mesentery spleen (connected to stomach
via the gastrosplenic ligament)
7. Initial ventral mesentery liver (liver bud) [falciform ligament
in front and lesser omentum behind)
Formation of the duodenum
1. Arises from the foregut + midgut
2. Junction at entry of the bile duct
3. As stomach rotates clockwise duodenum rotates to the R
4. Differential growth of duodenum + changes in stomach C
shape
5. Becomes retroperitoneal
Formation of liver
Foregut Hepatic diverticulum
Liver bud enlarges
1. 3rd week- liver bud appears as an endodermal out growth from
the distal part of the foregut
2. The bud proliferates rapidly as epithelial liver cords and
penetrates the ventral mesentery
3. While hepatic cells are proliferating the connecting between
the liver diverticulum and the duodenum narrows forming the
bile duct
4. A small ventral outgrowth from the bile duct forms the
gallbladder and cystic duct
5. Liver cords differentiate into hepatocytes and form the lining
of the biliary ducts
6. Mesoderm of the ventral mesentery gives rise to
hematopoietic cells, kupffer cells and connective tissue

7. Further growth of the liver bud allows the epi liver cords to
intermingle with the umbilical and vitelline veins. These veins
form the hepatic sinusoids

8. At 10th week liver weight is 10% of total body weight

9. At birth 5%
10.
Hepatic cells start production of bile at the 12th week
11.
During rotation of the foregut the bile duct gets moved
from ant to post

Midgut formation
1. Initially communicates w/ yolk sac via vitelline duct
2. Midgut tube rapidly elongates herniates out of abdominal
cavity into umbilical cord
3. Rotation
4. Retraction back into abdominal cavity
5. Vitelline duct usually obliterated but sometimes forms
Meckels diverticulum (1/2 way along midgut)
Mnemonic for retroperitoneal organs
SAD PUCKER
1. S- suprarenal glands
2. A- aorta + IVC
3. D- duodenum (2nd + 3rd parts)
4. P- pancreas (except tail)
5. U- ureters
6. C- colon (ascending + descending parts)
7. K- kidneys
8. E- oesophagus
9. R- rectum (upper part)

Development of the pancreas

Develops from the endodermal lining of the duo as a dorsal

and ventral bud
The dorsal bud is in the dorsal mesentery and the ventral in
the v
When the duodenum rotates the ventral bud and the entrance
to the common bile duct are shifted dorsally
The ventral vid comes to lie immediately below the dorsal so
they fuse together
The ventral part forms the uncinate process and inf part of the
head, dorsal makes the rest

The main pancreatic duct is formed by the union of the

ventral pancreatic duct with the distal part of the duct of
the dorsal bud
The proximal part of the dorsal pancreatic duct either
obliterates or persists to form the accessory pancreatic
duct
Pancreatic islets of langerhans develop from the 3rd month

Insulin secretion from the 5th month

Pancreatic connective tissue develops from the surrounding
mesoderm

Neurology embryology

Ectoderm thickens in the midline to form the neural plate

This undergoes differential mitosis to cause the formation of a
mid-line groove (neural groove)
Ectoderm: epidermis, CNS, PNS
Mesoderm: kidney, repro organs, bones, muscles, vascular
system
Endoderm: intestines, lungs, liver
The three cell layers form the primitive streak which defines
the planes of bilateral symmetry and the notocord which will
induce the formation of the neural plate in neurulation
Three weeks after conception a furrow forms that extends
from the rostral to caudal portions of the ectoderm
The sides of this groove then begin to close from the middle=
neurulation
Lateral to the neural plate lie presumptive neural crest cells
which run dorsolaterally

NEURAL CREST
Develop into
sensory (dorsal root) ganglion of spinal cord
CN 5,7,9,10
Schwann cells
Pigment cells
Adrenal medulla
Much of the bony skull, meninges and dermis

Differentiation
6th week: 3 primary vesicles form
7th week= 5 swellings

7th week
The rostal part (proscenphalon) divides into two to produce
the telencephalon- cerebral hemispheres, post part forms the
diencephalon- thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal and
retina
The mesencephalon does not divide
The rhombencephalon elongates rapidly- as a result it bends
ventrally forming the pontine flexure. This flexure divides it
into:
Metencephalon- pons and cerebellum
Myencephalon- medulla
Spinal cord abnormalities
Neural tube usually closes at the end of the 4th week
Failure to close at the end- spinal bifida
Failure to close at the cephalic end- anencephalus
MILESTONES:
3 weeks- eye formation
6 weeks- flexures and swellings
10 weeks- cerebral expansion and commisures
3m- basic structures established
5m- CNS myelination

7m- lobed cerebrum

9m- gyri and sulci
Key
= Gives rise to (most cases)

Nervous system forms mainly from ectoderm layer

Neural plate forms = widest at cranial end
The plate folds neural folds neural groove neural tube
Neural tube begins in the cervical region and ends caudally
Neural pores (open parts at caudal and rostral end of the
neural tube) close
At cranial end brain
Rostral end spinal cord
Neural tube inner luminal layer = neuroepithelial cells
neurons of the grey matter + their axons/dendrites
Wall thickens (proliferation of neuroepithelial cells)
neuroblasts mature neurons
Mesoderm bone marrow microglial cells

Neuroectoderm derivatives:
1. Neurons of the grey matter
2. Glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes)
Neural crest cells derivatives:
1. Dorsal root + cranial nerve ganglia
2. Sympathetic ganglia
3. Parasympathetic ganglia
4. Adrenal medulla
5. Arachnoid + pia mate
6. Some glial cells (schwann cells)
Development of the spinal cord

Most of neural tube length (rostral end) spinal cord

As neural tube thickens 3 layers:
a. Neuroepithelial layer
b. Mantle layer neurons of the grey matter + axonal
projections further development into dorsal + ventral
horns also forms wall of central canal
c. Marginal zone white matter of spinal cord

Development of the brain

Primary vesicles: prosencephalon (forebrain), mesencephalon
(midbrain) and rhombencephalon (hindbrain)
Tube in cranial region bends rather than grows
Primary vesicles secondary vesicles:

Prosencephalon telencephalon ( cerebral hemispheres) +

diencephalon ( thalamus + hypothalamus)
Rhombencephalon metencephalon (pons + cerebellum) +
myelencephalon (medulla oblongata)
W/in rhombencephalon 4th ventricle
W/in diencephalon 3rd ventricle
In between cerebral aqueduct

Embryology- development of the urinary system

During development 3 overlapping systems form from cranial
to caudal:
1. Pronephros- cranial, no function
2. Mesonephros- functions for a short period, L and T region
3. Metanephros- permanent kidney, develops in the pelvis
Pronephros
Forms and degenerates in the 4th week
7-10 solid cell groups called nephrotomes

Mesonephros
Comprises of a ridge and a duct

From intermediate mesoderm

Appears in the 4th week
The ridge is an ovoid shape on each side of the midline with
developing gonads forming the urogenital ridge
Gives rise to the mesonephric tubules which lengthen rapidly
and develop a glomerulus and bowmans capsule on each one
The mesonephric tubules enter laterally to the mesonephric
duct which enters into the cloaca
By the end of the 2nd month the majority of the tubules will
have degenerated, the mesnephric duct stays in males but
not females

Metanephros
Appears in the 5th week
Kidneys develop from 2 sources
1. Metanephric blastema- excretory units, tissue cap forming the
tubules
2. Uteric bud- collecting system
the uteric bud is a branch off the mesonephric duct which
penetrates the mesonephric blastema forming a cap over the bud
The uteric bud dilates forming the primitive renal pelvis which splits
into cranial and caudal portions, the future major calyx
These develop further into the minor calyx and collecting ducts and
renal pyramids

Position of the kidney

Develops in the pelvis
Shifts into the abdomen by the growth of the lumbar and S
regions

Bladder and urethra development

Allantois formed as an outgrowth of the cloaca
During the 4th-7th week the cloaca is divided by the urorectal
septum into the urogenital sinus and the anorectal canal
The urogenital sinus has 3 parts:
Upper- urinary bladder
Pelvic- prostatic and membranous urethra
Phalic- penile urethra
The ureters initially develop as an outgrowth from the
mesonephric duct which are then absorbed into the cloaca
The openings of the mesonephric duct move closer together
to enter the prostatic urethra- become the ejaculatory duct
Trigone of the bladder
Folding of the ureteric bud and mesonephric duct
The prostate is formed by the proliferation of the prostatic
urethra (endoderm)
Prostatic connective tissue and smooth muscle- mesoderm

Development of the genital system

The genital organs are derived from the intermediate
mesoderm from the 7th week
1. Formation of the genital ridges- from the proliferation of the
epithelium and a condensation of the underlying mesoderm.
The mullarian duct arises on the anterolateral surface of the
urogenital ridge
2. Migration of the primordial germ cells: they originate in the
epiblast and migrate through the primitive streak in the 3rd
week where they reach the wall of the yolk sac. At the 4th
week they migrate along the dorsal mesentary to the hind gut
where they reach the genital ridge in the 5th week
3. Formation of the cords (indifferent stage): the epi of the
genital ridge proliferates and some penetrates the mesoderm
to form irregular shaped cords

Development of the male genital system

The sex determining region on the Y chromosome (SRY)

produces a protein called testis determining factor- without
this present female development is established.
The male primitive sex cords continue to develop and
penetrate deep into the medulla forming the testis cords
Towards the hilum of the gland the cords break up into a
network of tubules called the rete testis
On the outside a dense layer of connective tissue called the
tunica albuginea develops
The genital ridge= testis
In the 4th week the testis cords connect to the rete testis
The mesonephric duct forms the epididymis, vans deferens,
seminal vesicle and ejaculatory duct stimulated by
testosterone
Development of the penis, scrotum and prostate is by
dihydrotestosterone

Testis cords

Contain:
Primordial germ cells

Cells derived from the epi of the genital ridge- sustentacula

cells of sertoli
Interstitial cells of leydig- from the connective tissue of the
genital ridge and secrete testosterone
Testosterone causes the differentiation of the genital ducts
and external genitalia
The testis cords remain solid until puberty where they develop
into ducts
The testis descends through the inguinal canal

External genitalia
In the 3rd week the migrating mesoderm moves to the cloacal
membrane forming the cloacal folds
The folds unite to form the genital tubercle
Divided into urethral and anal folds
The genital swellings occur in the urethral folds and is rapidly
enlarged by testosterone, urethral groove fuses to form the
penis with the urethra inside

Female development

The primitive sex cords develop into irregular cell clusters

These cell clusters occupy the medullary part of the ovary >
later replaced by the vascular stroma
7th week- the surface epithelium continues to proliferate

Gives rise to a second generation of cords- cortical cords, in

the third month these split into isolated cell clusters and each
one is surrounded by follicular cells
The mesonephric duct and excretory tubules degenerate
Oestrogen differentiates the Mullarian duct into the fallopian
tube, uterus, cervix and the top half of the vagina
The bottom half of the vagina and the external genitalia
develops from the urogenital sinus

Mullarian duct

Forms from the surface of the urogenital ridge

Upper part= uterine tube
Both ducts meet in the midline and fuse to form the uterine
canal
The lower end of the canal projects unto the post wall of the
urogenital sinus and forms the mullarian tubercle
After the ducts fuse the broad ligament is established
The mesoderm forms the myometrium and perimetrium of the
uterine wall

Vagina development

Upper- mullarian tubercle

Lower- urogenital sinus
By the 5th week the vagina is entirely canalised
The lumens of the two remain separate by the hymen

External genitalia
Scrotal swellings/labia majora
Genital tubercle becomes the clitoris
Urethral folds do not fuse and become the labia minora

Urethral groove folds form the vestibule

Hindgut embryology
Develops into the L 1/3 transverse, descendings, sigmoid and
rectum and anal canal
Has dorsal mesentery
Transverse stays
Descending loses
Sigmoid stays
Rectum and anal canal- none
The caudal end dilates to form the cloaca (endoderm)connected to the allantois ant and covered by ectoderm at the
ventral surface
The cloacal membrane= endoderm and ectoderm
The mesoderm proliferates forming the urogenital septumreaches the cloacal membrane dividing into 2:
Urogenital membrane
Anal membrane
The urogenital septum then raises the ectoderm between the
two forming the prineal body

The anorectal canal forms the mucosa of the rectum and

upper 2/3 anal canal
Lower 1/3= ectoderm
Develops through the proliferation of mesoderm around the
anal membrane
7th week- the anal membrane ruptures forming a full canal
shown by the formation of the pectinate line
Upper 2/3- sup rectal art- inf mes
Lower 1/3- inf rectal- int pudendal art

The Breast
Formation of the breast

Paired epithelial rudiments derived from sweat glands

present at birth
Begin to enlarge 1-2 years before puberty under the
influence of estrogen
1st composed of adipose tissue which grows into solid cords
of epi cells from the nipple
The epi cords hollow out to form the lactiferous milk ducts
Development
15-20 segments separated by fibrous septa that radiate
from the nipple
Thickened strands attach it to the overlying skin
Ducts open onto the surface of the nipple but remain fused
until pregnancy