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Genetic Sex
Gonadal Sex
Each of the three major elements of the genital tract goes through two
phases:
a Bipotential phase (undifferentiated phase)
Differentiation phase into either a male or female organs.
Embryology of The Genital Tract
(Mechanism of sexual determination and
differentiation)
The oogonia are transformed into primary oocytes as they enter the 1st meiotic
division and arrest in prophase until puberty and beginning of ovulation.
Around the 20th week of gestation the ovary contains about 7 million germ cells
(see chapter on ovulation).
However the target cells of the external genitalia must be able to convert
testosterone to its active product Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) under the
influence of the intracellular enzyme 5 alpha reductase
Differentiation to female phenotype:
In the absence of DHT the bipotential external genitalia differentiate into female
Migratory Path Of Primordial Germ Cells From The Yolk Sac
Along The Hindgut Mesentery, To The Urogenital Ridge At Approximately 5
Weeks
Indifferent Stage (Approximately 7 weeks)
Development of
the external
female genitalia