BGDB Sexual Differentiation - Fetal: Difference between revisions

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==Additional Information==


===Testes Descent Timeline===
===Testes Descent Timeline===


Data from a recent study of male human fetal (between 10 and 35 weeks) gonad position.
Data from a study of male human fetal (between 10 and 35 weeks) gonad position.
 
* '''10 to 23 weeks''' - (9.45%) had migrated from the abdomen and were situated in the inguinal canal
10 to 23 weeks - (9.45%) had migrated from the abdomen and were situated in the inguinal canal
* '''24 to 26 weeks''' - (57.9%) had migrated from the abdomen
 
* '''27 to 29 weeks''' - (16.7%) had not descended to the scrotum
24 to 26 weeks - (57.9%) had migrated from the abdomen


27 to 29 weeks - (16.7%) had not descended to the scrotum
A second study showed that from
* 33 weeks fetal testes had descended to the scrotum
* between 33 to 40 weeks (term) both testes have normally descended to the scrotum


A second study showed that from 33 weeks fetal testes had descended to the scrotum and that between 33 to 40 weeks (term) both testes have normally descended to the scrotum. Failure of descent (cryptorchidism) either unilateral or bilateral testicular descent, occurring in up to 30% premature and 3-4% term males.
Failure of descent (cryptorchidism) either unilateral or bilateral testicular descent, occurring in up to 30% premature and 3-4% term males.


References: Sampaio FJ, Favorito LA. Analysis of testicular migration during the fetal period in humans. J Urol. 1998 Feb;159(2):540-2. | Malas MA, Sulak O, Ozturk A. The growth of the testes during the fetal period. BJU Int. 1999 Oct;84(6):689-92.
References: Sampaio FJ, Favorito LA. Analysis of testicular migration during the fetal period in humans. J Urol. 1998 Feb;159(2):540-2. | Malas MA, Sulak O, Ozturk A. The growth of the testes during the fetal period. BJU Int. 1999 Oct;84(6):689-92.

Revision as of 18:33, 29 May 2011

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Practical 12: Sex Determination | Early Embryo | Late Embryo | Fetal | Postnatal | Abnormalities | 2011 Audio


Introduction

In the previous section we observed late embryonic male genital development and now in fetal development we will observe early fetal female development. Then we will explore fetal development of the external genitalia and gonadal descent.

Week 10 Female

  • week 10 to 12 - female in absence of Sry expression, within the gonad cortical cords extend from the gonad surface epithelium. Primordial germ cells which have entered the gonad form oogonia primordia, surrounding mesenchyme forms the follicular primordia.
  • The selected images below show the general anatomy of the pelvic region of the an early female fetus (10 week, 40mm).
  • This first image shows the relative positions of the kidney (plane A most lateral) and developing ovary (plane A and B away from the midline) and internal genitalia (plane C and D in the midline).
  • The selected images below show sections through the pelvic region showing anatomical relationships between the developing female gonad (ovary), internal genital tract and external genitalia.
  • Note the relative immaturity of the external genitalia, which at this time would appear identical to the male.

Uterus and Vagina

Paramesonephric duct.jpg

Mouse paramesonephric duct (Müllerian duct)[1]

This mouse image shows the relationship between the mesonephric and paramesonephric ducts opening into the urogenital sinus.
  • The paramesonephric duct began as an infold of surface epithelium lying along the surface of the genital ridge.
  • Estrogens, both maternal and fetal, stimulate its development and that eventually of the external female fetal genital structures.
  • In contrast, the mesonephric duct regresses, remnants of this duct may remain lying within the broad ligament.
Uterus 001 icon.jpg Female Uterus and Vagina (between week 9 and 20)
  • The initially paired ducts fuse in the midline forming the single body of the uterus.
  • The ducts remain separate laterally where they form the uterine tubes (Fallopian tubes, uterine horns).
  • The ducts peripheral attachment site to the urogenital sinus wall (yellow) is is described as the Müllerian tubercle.
  • The fused ducts also generate the vagina, under the influence of BMP4.
  • Estrogen will also later alter the vaginal epithelium.

The uterus and broad ligament will eventulaly divide the pelvic cavity into two separate pouches.

  • posteriorly - uterorectal pouch (pouch of Douglas)
  • anteriorly - uterovesical pouch

This graph shows the growth during the fetal period of the uterus between week 19 and 38. During this time the uterine circumference increases from 20 mm to just under 60mm and the width increases from less than 10mm to just over 20 mm.

Uterine horn fimbrial development begins after week 20 and continues after birth.

Uterine growth continues postnatally, increasing outer muscle thickness and cyclic changes in the lining with puberty.

(Data: Soriano D, Lipitz S, Seidman DS, Maymon R, Mashiach S, Achiron R. Development of the fetal uterus between 19 and 38 weeks of gestation: in-utero ultrasonographic measurements. Hum Reprod. 1999 Jan;14(1):215-8.)

External Genitalia

This next section will look at the development of the external genitalia using a series of animations and online resources.

Female External Genitalia

Female external 001 icon.jpg Linked animation showing the development of external female genitalia from the indifferent external structure (week 9 to 12 approximately).
  • original cloacal membrane becomes separated into the urogenital membrane and anal membrane
  • urogenital folds beneath the genital tubercle remain separate (unfused)
    • forming the inner labia minora
  • second outer skin folds form the larger labia majora
    • either side of the developing vestibule of the vagina
  • genital tubercle (top of the animation) forms the glans of the clitoris

Male External Genitalia

Male external 001 icon.jpg Linked animation showing the development of external male genitalia from the indifferent external structure (week 9 to 12 approximately).
  • original cloacal membrane becomes separated into the urogenital membrane and anal membrane (identical to female).
  • urogenital folds beneath the genital tubercle begin to fuse in the midline
  • skin folds either side for the scrotum
    • which also has a midline fusion, the raphe
  • scrotal sac is initially empty and is an attachment site for the gubernaculum
  • descent of the testes begins generally during week 26 and may take several days.

External Genitalia Comparison

Gonad Descent

Gonad blood 01 icon.jpg Linked animation shows the descent of the gonads and their blood supply.
  • both male and female gonads undergo this relative descent within the peritoneal cavity
    • this descent carries the gonads away from the kidneys which are ascending
  • during the fetal period, male testes will continue to descend out of the peritoneal cavity

Internal Gonad Descent

Testes Descent

Testis 001 icon.jpg The linked animation shows the descent of the testes (between week 7 to 38, birth).

The testis (white) lies in the subserous fascia (spotted) a cavity processus vaginalis evaginates into the scrotum, and the gubernaculum (green) attached to the testis shortens drawing it into the scotal sac. As it descends it passes through the inguinal canal which extends from the deep ring (transversalis fascia) to the superficial ring (external oblique muscle). Descent of the testes into the scrotal sac begins generally during week 26 and may take several days. The animation shows the path of a single testis. Incomplete or failed descent can occur unilaterally or bilaterally, is more common in premature births, and can be completed postnatally. (see also cryptorchidism).

Abdominal muscles : external oblique (purple), internal oblique (blue), transverse abdominus (pink)

Fascia: transversalis (red), subserous (spotted), peritoneum (orange)


Additional Information

Testes Descent Timeline

Data from a study of male human fetal (between 10 and 35 weeks) gonad position.

  • 10 to 23 weeks - (9.45%) had migrated from the abdomen and were situated in the inguinal canal
  • 24 to 26 weeks - (57.9%) had migrated from the abdomen
  • 27 to 29 weeks - (16.7%) had not descended to the scrotum

A second study showed that from

  • 33 weeks fetal testes had descended to the scrotum
  • between 33 to 40 weeks (term) both testes have normally descended to the scrotum

Failure of descent (cryptorchidism) either unilateral or bilateral testicular descent, occurring in up to 30% premature and 3-4% term males.

References: Sampaio FJ, Favorito LA. Analysis of testicular migration during the fetal period in humans. J Urol. 1998 Feb;159(2):540-2. | Malas MA, Sulak O, Ozturk A. The growth of the testes during the fetal period. BJU Int. 1999 Oct;84(6):689-92.


BGDsmall.jpg
Practical 12: Sex Determination | Early Embryo | Late Embryo | Fetal | Postnatal | Abnormalities | 2011 Audio


References

  1. <pubmed>12297555</pubmed>

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, March 28) Embryology BGDB Sexual Differentiation - Fetal. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/BGDB_Sexual_Differentiation_-_Fetal

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© Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G