Genital - Female Development
Introduction
The male and female reproductive systems develop initially "indifferently", it is the product of the Y chromosome SRY gene that initially makes the "difference". The paramesonephric (Müllerian Duct) contribute the majority of female internal genital tract, while the mesonephric duct degenerates.
The mesonephric/paramesonephric duct changes are one of the first male/female differences that occur in development, while external genitaila remain indeterminate in appearance for quite a while.
There are many different issues to consider in the development of the genital system. Importantly its sex chromosome dependence, late embryonic/fetal differential development, complex morphogenic changes, long time-course, hormonal sensitivity and hormonal influences make it a system prone to many different abnormalities.
There are also currently separate pages describing Ovary Development | Oocyte Development | Uterus Development | Vagina Development.
| Puberty
Some Recent Findings
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Textbooks
- Human Embryology (2nd ed.) Larson Chapter 10 p261-306
- The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (6th ed.) Moore and Persaud Chapter 13 p303-346
- Before We Are Born (5th ed.) Moore and Persaud Chapter 14 p289-326
- Essentials of Human Embryology, Larson Chapter 10 p173-205
- Human Embryology, Fitzgerald and Fitzgerald Chapter 21-22 p134-152
- Developmental Biology (6th ed.) Gilbert Chapter 14 Intermediate Mesoderm
Movies
Urogenital Sinus | Urogenital Septum |
Uterus | Female External |
Development Overview
Three main stages during development, mesonephric/paramesonephric duct changes are one of the first male/female differences that occur in development, while external genitaila remain indeterminate in appearance for quite a while.
- Differentiation of gonad (Sex determination)
- Differentiation of internal genital organs
- Differentiation of external genital organs
The 2nd and 3rd stages dependent on endocrine gonad. Reproductive development has a long maturation timecourse, begining in the embryo and finishing in puberty. (More? Puberty Development)
Gonad - Ovary
Primordial germ cell migration (mouse)
Migration 1 | Migration 2 | Migration 3 |
- Links: Ovary Development | Puberty Development
Internal Genital
Historic Images of Genital Changes
Urogenital indifferent | Urogenital female |
External Genital
External Female Genital
References
Reviews
Articles
Search PubMed
'Search Pubmed: Female Genital System Development | paramesonephric duct development | paramesonephric duct
Additional Images
Terms
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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, May 19) Embryology Genital - Female Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Genital_-_Female_Development
- © Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G