DEVELOPMENT

OF
GENITAL SYSTEM

Dr.B.B.Gosai
Professor in Anatomy
Ojvensha e-learning resources
 Learning Objectives:
 Development of indifferent gonads.
 Development of testis, ovary and
genitalia.
 Derivatives of mesonephric duct and
paramesonephric ducts in male and
female.
 Congenital anomalies of genital system
 References:
 Langman’s Medical Embryology by
T.W.Sadler

 Other reference text book:

 Keith Moore’s Developing Human
 DEVELOPMENT OF GONADS
 Genital(Gonadal) ridge: It is formed at the 4th week
by proliferation of coelomic epithelium, forming genital
ridges on both sides of dorsal mesentery and medial
to mesonephros.
 These genital ridges are indifferent in both sexes till
the beginning of 7th week when it becomes
differentiated into testis or ovary.
 Mesonephric ligaments: Urogenital fold is produced
by elevation of coelomic epithelium by bulges of
mesonephros and gonads. This fold extends upwards
as cranial mesonephric ligament and downwards as
caudal mesonephric ligament which extends cranially
to diaphragm and caudally to inguinal region. In case
of testis cranial fold disappears while in ovary it
persists as infundibulo-pelvic ligament.
 Stages of development of gonads:
1- Indifferent gonads: Before the 7th week as we can’t
differentiate between ovary and testis.
2- Differentiation: After the 7th week as gonads becomes
differentiated into testis or ovary under the SRY(Sex-
determining Region on Y chromosome) gene.
Sources of gonad development:
1- Intermediate mesoderm: forms the genital ridge.
2- Coelomic epithelium: forms sex cords.
3- Primitive (primordial) germ cells: form sperms or ova.
These germ cells are formed at 21th day in caudal part of the
wall of yolk sac (Hindgut). Germ cells migrate through dorsal
mesentery to the gonad (at 6th w.)
DEVELOPMENT OF
TESTIS
 DEVELOPMENT OF TESTIS
 It is developed from 3 sources:
 1- Genital ridge: bulge of intermediate mesoderm,
medial to mesonephros on both sides of dorsal
mesentry. It forms fibrous septa and tunica albuginea.
It also form Interstitial cells of Leydig.
 2- Coelomic epithelium: multiply to form irregular sex
cords(Testis/medullary cords). Sex cords become
separated from surface coelomic epithelium to form
horse-shoe semineferous cords which are transformed
into tubules at puberty.It also form Sertoli cells.
 3- Primitive germ cells: appear at wall of hindgut and
migrate through dorsal mesentry to genital ridge
where they become incorporated in the sex cord (by
the 6th week).
-Descend of the testis:
-The lower pole of testis is connected to scrotum by
gubernaculum which contracts pulling testis to scrotum.
-It begins development at level of 1st lumbar vertebera.
-At 3rd month, it lies in iliac fossa.
-At 7th month, it lies in inguinal canal.
-At 8th month, it lies in superficial inguinal ring.
-At 9th month, it lies in the scrotum.
Processus vaginalis is a peritoneal protrusion
that perceeds the descend of testis to form the
inguinal canal and coverings of spermatic cord.
-It becomes obliterated, after descend of testis
except the caudal part which is called tunica
vaginalis which covers testis with parietal and
visceral layers.
- Caudal mesonephric ligament remains as
ligamentum testis while connective tissue around
processus vaginalis remains as scrotal ligament.
 Causes of Descend of testis:
-Elongation of upper part of posterior abdominal wall.
-Growth of abdominal viscera.
-Contraction of gubernaculum under effect of gonadotrophins.

-Congenital Anomalies:
1- Cryptorchism: failure of descend.
2- Ectopic testis: mal-descend of testis.
3- Congenital inguinal hernia: persistence of processus
vaginalis.
4- Congenital cyst of spermatic cord: persistence of
unobliterated part of processus vaginalis.
MESONEPHRIC DUCT
 Fate of Mesonephros
 1- Tubules:
 Males: form vasa efferentia.

 Females: form epoophoron and paroophoron.

2- Mesonephric duct
- Males: Epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicle,
ejaculatory duct, ureter and trigone of urinary.
- Females: Duct of epoophoron, ureter and trigone of

urinary bladder.

At the 8th week most of mesonephric tubules

degenerate.
DEVELOPMENT OF
OVARY
 DEVELOPMENT OF OVARY
 It is developed from 3 sources:
 1-Genital ridge (part of intermediate mesoderm) that
forms fibrous tissue (capsule & stroma) of the ovary.
 2-Coelomic epithelium forms 2 generations of sex
cords; primitive which degenerate forming medulla
then defenitive that persists as follicular cells of
primordial follicles.
 3-Primirtive germ cells migrate from wall of hindgut
through dorsal mesentery to reach gonads at the 6th
week. Germ cells become incorporated in the
defenitive sex cords which become broken into
clusters of cells (primary oocyte and surrounded with
follicular cells) which are called primordial follicles.
 Descent of the ovary:
-Firstly it lies on posterior abdominal wall at the level of first
lumbar vertebra.
-It descends to the pelvic cavity by pulling of gubernaculum which
is a fibromuscular cord that extends from lower pole of ovary to
labia majora (female external genital organ). It forms the round
ligament of uterus
-Cranial mesonephric ligaments forms infundibulo-pelvic ligament
while the gubernaculum remains as ovarian ligament (from ovary
to uterus) and round ligament (from uterus to labia majora).
Congenital Anomalies:
1- Ovarian agenesis: failure of formation.
2- Ovarian hypoplasia: low number of primordial follicles.
3- Maldescended ovary: Ovary in abnormal site.
PARAMESONEPHRIC
DUCT
 PARAMESONEPHRIC DUCT
 Two ducts which are formed by invagination of
coelomic epithelium.
 Cranial end of the duct communicates with
coelomic cavity.
 It has 3 parts:
 Cranial vertical part which lies lateral to
mesonephric duct.
 Middle horizontal part which is ventral to
mesonephric duct.
 Caudal vertical part which is medial to mesonephric
duct. They are blind caudal ends which lie in
contact with the back of defenitive uro-genital sinus.
 Utero-vaginal canal:
-It is the caudal fused parts of paramesonephric ducts.
The septum between the ducts disappears to form a
single canal known as utero-vaginal canal.
-This canal forms uterus and upper 4/5 of vagina.
-The upper and middle parts of paramesonephric ducts
form uterine tubes.
-The cranial end of paramesonephric ducts remain
communicating with coelomic cavity.
-The caudal 1/5 of the vagina is developed from
Müllerian tubercle.
 Müllerian Tubercle:
-Endodermal proliferation of posterior wall of defenitive
urogenital sinus at site of contact of caudal blind ends of
paramesonephric ducts.
-Upwards growth of müllerian tubercle will form 2 sino-
vaginal bulbs which unite together to form vaginal plate.
-Vaginal plate canalizes to form lower 1/5 of vagina.
-Hymen is formed at the junction between developing
lower 1/5 of vagina and back of defenitive uro-genital
sinus. Then hymen becomes perforated.
-In males, paramesonephric duct persists as appendix of
testis and prostatic utericle.
 Congenital Anomalies
 1- Persistence of intrauterine septum.
 2- Double uterus & double vagina: due to failure
of fusion between the 2 ducts.
 3- Bicornuate uterus: due incomplete fusion of the
ducts.
 4- Rudimentary horn: Failure of formation of one
duct.
 5- Atresia of cervix or vagina: failure of
canalization.
 6- Imperforate hymen: due to failure of
perforation.
 DEVELOPMENT
OF
EXTERNAL GENITAL
ORGANS
 DEVELOPMENT OF EXTERNAL
GENITAL ORGAN
A- Indifferent stage:
 It starts at the 3rd week by the appearance of cloacal
folds on both sides of cloacal membrane.
 With division of cloacal membrane, cloacal folds divide
into genital and anal folds.
B- Differentiation:
 At the end of 3rd month, genital folds unites anteriorly
to form genital tubercle that form phalus in male and
clitoris in female. The genital folds become uretheral
fold in male and labia minora in female.
 Genital swellings appear on both sides of genital folds
that unite together in male forming scrotum and
remain separate in female forming labia majora.
 CONGENITAL ANOMALIES
 1- Hypospadius: Opening of urethera on lower
surface of penis due to failure of fusion of uretheral
folds.
 2- Clitoris hypertrophy: overgrowth of genital
tubercle.
 3- Undersized penis: undergrowth of genital tubercle.
 4- Bifid scrotum: failure of fusion of genital swellings.
 5- Pseudohermaphrodite: External genitalia belong
to one sex and the gonads belong to the other.
…..Thanks…..