INDIFFERENT GONAD

Although sex is determined at fertilization, the gonads initially go through an

indifferent stage between weeks 4 and 7 when there are no specific ovarian or
testicular characteristics.
The indifferent gonads develop in a longitudinal elevation or ridge of intermediate
mesoderm called the urogenital ridge.
Primordial Germ Cells
Primordial germ cells arise from the lining cells in the wall of the yolk sac.
At week 4, primordial germ cells migrate into the indifferent gonad.
Components of the Indifferent Gonad
l Primordial germ cells migrate into the gonad from the yolk sac and
provide a critical inductive influence on gonad development.
l Primary sex cords are fingerlike extensions of the surface epithelium
that grow into the gonad that are populated by the migrating primordial
germ cells.
l Mesonephric (Wolffian) and the paramesonephric (Mullerian) ducts
of the indifferent gonad contribute to the male and female genital tracts,
respectively.