DEVELOPMENTS OF GONADS

1. It starts at 6-7 weeks and is completed by 12-13 weeks

2. The intermediate mesoderm along the dorsal body wall
makes a longitudinal elevation urogenital ridge
3. Proliferation of the mesoderm of the urogenital ridge + coelomic epithelium gonadal ridge

4. The primordial germ cells (XY/XX) in the wall of the yolk sac (endoderm)
migrate to the gonadal ridge primary sex cords

DEVELOPMENT OF TESTIS
1. The primary sex cords extend into the medulla of the gonads and loose their
connection with the surface epithelium of the gonads as the thick tunica albuginea
forms ------- medullary cords

DEVELOPMENT OF OVARY
1. The primary sex cords form rete ovarii then degenerate and replaced by
CT & blood vessels to form the medulla of the ovary
2. Proliferation of the coelomic epithelium 2ry sex cords

2. Under the effect of TDF, the medullary cords ------ semineferous cords, tubuli
recti, and rete testes
3. The seminiferous cords canalize at puberty ------ seminiferous tubules that
consist of spermatogonia and Sertoli cells

3. The 2ry sex cords enclose the primordial germ cells which break apart to
form isolated cell clusters = primordial follicles (consists of 1ry oocytes
surrounded by a layer of follicular cells).

4. The mesoderm between the seminiferous cords form the interstitial cells of
Leydig

4. the ovaries develop in the abdomen then descend to the pelvis due to:
- disproportionate growth of the abdomen from the pelvis.
- the gubernaculum.
Anomalies of the testes:
1- Testicular hypoplasia = small testis (in Klinefelter syndrome).
2- Undescended testes = cryptorchidism.
3- Ectopic testes: present at abnormal site as pubis, perineum, femoral triangle.
4- Congenital inguinal hernia = due to patent processes vaginalis.
5- Hydrocoele + enclosed scrotal cyst.

Abnormalities:
1- Ovarian hypoplasia (in Turner syndrome).
2- Ectopic ovary: the ovary may be found in the inguinal canal or in the
labia majora

Descent of the testis

The testis originally develops in the abdomen then it descends to the scrotum under the effect of:
1- Increased intra-abdominal pressure.
2- Relative growth of the abdomen away of the
pelvis.
3- The gubernaculums (a fibromuscular band stretched between the lower pole of the testis and the scrotum.
4-Testosterone hormone.
Levels of the testis:
4th month iliac fossa
7th month . Inguinal canal
8th month . External inguinal ring
9th months scrotum

Male duct system

1. Sertoli cells secrete Mullerian inhibitory factor
- under the effect of MIF paramesonephric ducts (Mullerian ducts) which
are invaginations of the lateral surface of the urogenital ridge regress
completely
- vestigial remnant may persist
appendix testis
prostatic utricle

2. Interstitial cells of Leydig secrete testosterone

- under the effect of testosterone mesonephric ducts (Wolffian ducts)
differentiate into :
a. efferent ductules (vasa efferentia
b. epididymis
c. vas deference
d. seminal vesicle
e. ejaculatory duct

Female duct system

1. In the absence of Sertoli cells & MIF Mullerian duct persists
- upper part of the paramesonephric(Mullerian) ducts give Fallopian tubes
- lower parts fuse in the midline uterovaginal primordium which develops into
uterus, cervix and upper 3/5 of the vagina
- uterovaginal primordium projects into the dorsal wall of the urogenital sinus
to form sinovaginal bulbs that fuse to form solid vaginal plate
- solid vaginal plate canalizes to give the lower 2/5 of the vagina ending with a
thin perforated plate called hymen

2. In the absence of Leydig cells & testosterone Wolffian ducts regress

completely leaving vestigial remnants (epoophron, paroophoron, Gartners duct)

3- Serial endodermal buds located off the urethra forming the prostate
Mesodermal origin :
- efferent ductules (vasa efferentia)
- epididymis
- vas deference
- seminal vesicle

- ejaculatory duct

Endodermal origin
- prostate
- sperm (primordial germ
cell from the yolk sac)

Congenital anomalies of the female ducts

1- Abnormalities due to non-fusion of the Mullarian duct:
- Double uterus with double vagina,
- Double uterus with single vagina,
- Bipartite uterus = uterine septum,
- Arcuate uterus = small indentation of the fundus.

2- Anomalies due to atresia (non canalization) of the Mullarian ducts:

- rudimentry horn of the uterus.
- atresia of the cervix.
- atresia aof the vagina.

3- Imperforate hymen.
4- Wide elastic hymen (single wide opening surrounded by elastic tissue).

Male External genitalia

- develops at 9-13 weeks.
- mesoderm around the cloacal membrane proliferates and rises the overlying
ectoderm to form 3 structures:
1- Genital tubercle which elongates (under the effect of dihydrotestosterone)
.. corpora cavernosa + glans penis
2- Urethral folds which will fuse . Penile urethra
3- Genital swellings which fuse . scrotum

Anomalies of the male external genitalia

1- Small phallus (micro-penis)
2- Bifid scrotum (non-fused scrotal folds)
3- Hypospadius = urethra opens ventrally
on the penis.
4- Epispadius = urethra opens dorsally
on the penis
( associated with Ectopia vesica)

Female External Genitalia:

In the absence of DHT
1- The genital tubercle ------------- Clitoris
2- The genital swellings ------------ Labia majora
3- The urethral folds ---------------- Labia minora