J.-H. Lue
1
GONADS
(i) mesothelium (mesodermal epithelium)
3
6w
4
INDIFFERENT GONADS
9
Indifferent stage (6th week)
7w 9w
13
4th month
11-week
16-week
Prostate gland -- arise from the prostatic (endodermal) portion of the urethra
and grow into the surrounding mesenchyme
.endodermal cells® glandular .mesenchyme®dense stroma
16
epithelium and smooth muscle
Newborn
bulbourethral gland -- arise from the spongy (endodermal) portion of the urethra
9 weeks
.dual origins
(a). fused paramesonephric duct® uterovaginal primordium®
uterine canal and upper part of the vagina
(b). uterovaginal primordium contact with the primitive urogenital
sinus evaginates to form sinovaginal bulbs® vagina plate®
canalized to form lower part of the vagina 21
Formation of the vagina
9 weeks
9 weeks 3rd month
3rd month Newborn Newborn
.dual origins
(a). fused paramesonephric duct® uterovaginal primordium®
uterine canal and upper part of the vagina
(b). uterovaginal primordium contact with the primitive urogenital
sinus evaginates to form sinovaginal bulbs® vagina plate®
canalized to form lower part of the vagina 22
Auxiliary genital glands in the female
12-week
Newborn
23
Normal
Bicornuate uterus
Bicornuate uterus with a
rudimentary left horn
Indifferent stage
in the 4th week, mesenchyme cells from the primitive streak migrate around the cloacal
membrane® cloacal folds, cranial portion of the folds® genital tubercle (GT)
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under influence of estrogens, GT® clitoris
30
Newborn
5 months
hermaphroditism (intersexuality)
true hermaphrodite
pseudohermaphrodites
male pseudohermaphrodites
female pseudohermaphrodites
female pseudohermaphrodites 32
Descent of testis
35
Descent of ovary
36
PGC
TDF
37
GENITAL SYSTEM
1
OVARY
.in embryos with XX sex chromosome, primary sex cords degenerate
.in 10th week, cortical cords formed; in 16th week, cortical cords primordial
follicles:(i).oogonium(PGC), (ii). flattened follicular cells (mesothelium)
.germinal epithelium-- peritoneum
.no oogonia form postnatally in full term humans
.oogonium primary oocyte primary follicle
.mesenchyme surrounding the follicles ovarian stroma
.as the ovary separates from the regressing mesonephros, it becomes suspended
by its own mesentery, mesovarium
GENITAL DUCTS
Indifferent stage (6th week)
(a). paramesonephric ducts (Mullerian duct):
(i). funnel-like cranial portion coelomic cavity
(ii). fused caudal portion uterine canal paramesonephric or Mullerian
tubercle
(b). mesonephric ducts (Wolffian duct)
Differentiation of the duct system
Influence of sex gland on further sex differentiation:
Testis
Mullerian testosterone
inhibiting substance (MIS)* (Leydig‘s cells) (8th week)
2
Ovary
3
Formation of the vagina
.dual origins:
(a). fused paramesonephric duct uterovaginal primordium 1)uterine canal
and 2)upper part of the vagina
(b). uterovaginal primordium contact with the primitive urogenital sinus
evaginates to form sinovaginal bulbs vagina plate canalized to form
lower part of the vagina
Auxiliary genital glands in the female
.urethral glands paraurethral glands
.greater vestibular glands (of Bartholin)
-- outgrowth from the urogenital sinus
-- homologous to the bulbourethral glands
Anomalies
.duplication and atresia of uterine canal
(a). uterus didelphys, (b). bicornuate uterus, (c). bicornuate uterus with a
rudimentary horn, (d). unicornuate uterus
EXTERNAL GENITALIA
Indifferent stage
.in the 4th week, mesenchyme cells from the primitive streak migrate around
the cloacal membrane cloacal folds, cranial portion of the folds genital
tubercle (GT)
.in the 7 week, cloacal membrane 1)urogenital membrane &2)anal
membrane
cloacal folds 1)urogenital (urethral) folds &2)anal folds
.mesenchyme cells around the urethral folds genital swellings (GS)
(labioscrotal swelling)
(i). in male, GS scrotal swellings
(ii). in female, GS labia majora
External genitalia in the male
.under influence of androgens ( fetal testes), GT phallus
.urethral folds urethral groove; urethral plate penile urethra
glandular portion of penile urethra invaginate from the ectodermal cells
.fusion of scrotal swellings scrotal septum
Anormalies
.hypospadias
.epispadias
.ectopia or exstrophy of the bladder
4
External genitalia in the female.under influence of estrogens
.GT clitoris
.urethra folds labia minora
.GS labia majora
.urogenital groove vestibule
Sex abnormalities as reflected in the duct system and external genitalia
.true hermaphrodite
.pseudohermaphrodites (intersexuality)
.male pseudohermaphrodites
.female pseudohermaphrodites
Descent of testis (2nd -- 7th month development)
.development of inguinal canal & formation of the vaginal process
.the site of the inguinal canal in the fetus is first indicated by the
gubernaculum (mesonephros degenerate, from inferior poles of gonad to
the internal surface of the labioscrotal swelling)
.the processus vaginalis develops on each side ventral to the gubernaculum
.the opening produced in the transversalis fascia by the processus vaginalis
becomes the deep inguinal ring
.the opening in the external oblique aponeurosis becomes the superficial
inguinal ring
.testis posterior abdominal wall deep inguinal rings inguinal canal
superficial inguinal rings scrotum
possible factors that affect the descent of testis:
(a). the pelvis enlarges
(b). the trunk of the embryo elongates
(c). an increase in intrabdominal pressure (the growth of the abdominal viscera)
(d). the hormone control, e.g. gonadotropins & androgens
clinical evidence: by the administration of the gonadotropic hormones to
treat the cryptorchidism
(e). the exact role of gubernaculum is unknown
(f). descent through the inguinal canal begins during week 28 and takes 2 to 3
days
Descent of ovary
ovaries posterior abdominal wall inferior to the pelvic brim
.do not normally enter the inguinal canals, the processus vaginalis normally
obliterates completely
.the gubernaculum attaches to the uterus ovarian ligament
& round ligament of uterus
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