Introduction
This section of notes covers both
kidney and genital development. The
kidneys filter and excrete waste body
fliuds. The gonads are involved in
developing secondary sex characteristics
and generation of sex cells (gametes) for
reproduction. These 2 systems have
entirely different mature functions but
are closely associated by the anatomical
requirements of the mature system. 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.
The kidneys, urinary tract and the
majority of the reproductive organs, arise
in the intermediate mesoderm between the
somites and the lateral plate. The kidney
goes through 3 stages of development that
recapitulate evolution of the kidney;
pronephros, mesonephros, metanephros.
The specialized structures within the
kidney involved with filtering the blood,
reabsorbtion, secretion, and generation of
urine are called nephrons.
(More? see about Nephrons)
Computer Activities
UNSW Embryology:
Kidney Lectures: ANAT2300 Vertebrate Development- Kidney
Kidney Pages:
Embryo Images Unit:
Embryo Images Online
Human Embryology Movies:
See also movies on CD
Following links to Internet Movies large files Urogenital
animations page
Video
Stage 13/14 Pig
Overview
These serial sections are from the top of the
lefthand primitive kidney through to the curve at
the base of the kidney. Towards the bottom of each
frame is the midline of the embryo.The full size
images show much more detail. This panel is also
available as a large image on the Pig
st13/14 page.
The main feature to observe is the appearance
medially of the mature metanephric region with the
forming glomeruli,
laterally the
mesonephros still
forms the bulk of the kidney (and the lateral
dorsal bulge seen in the embryo) with the
mesonephric duct and subcardinal vein
the prominant channels within the kidney. The large
vessel at the bottom left of each image is the
dorsal aorta.
Beside the new glomeruli appearing as a slight
thickening of the medial wall of the kidney is the
genital ridge.
This region will contribute to the gonad.
More Detail? Developmental Overview
