Vagina Development

Introduction

Section through newborn female

The embryonic origin of the vagina has been a historically hotly debated issue with several different contributions and origins described. Current molecular studies show the whole vagina is derived from the Müllerian duct with bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) reshaping the intermediate mesoderm-derived Müllerian duct into the vaginal primordium.^[1]

One description shows the vagina arising by downward growth of Wolffian and Mullerian ducts. The sinovaginal bulbs are the caudal ends of the Wolffian ducts. Vaginal development is also under negative control of androgens. An earlier understanding was that the upper part of the vagina derived from Müllerian ducts and the lower part from the sinovaginal bulbs (formed by fusion form the vaginal plate) all derived from the urogenital sinus. The terms sinovaginal bulbs and vaginal plate were first coined by Koff in 1933.^[2]

The model rodent vagina has a dual origins, cranial part is from the Müllerian duct and caudal part from the urogenital sinus. Acién's hypothesis, relates to abnormalities and the embryology of the human vagina as deriving from the Wolffian ducts and the Müllerian tubercle.

Historic Embryology - Genital
General: 1901 Urinogenital Tract \| 1902 The Uro-Genital System \| 1904 Ovary and Testis \| 1912 Urinogenital Organ Development \| 1914 External Genitalia \| 1921 Urogenital Development \| 1921 External Genital \| 1942 Sex Cords \| 1953 Germ Cells \| Historic Embryology Papers \| Historic Disclaimer
Female: 1904 Ovary and Testis \| 1904 Hymen \| 1912 Urinogenital Organ Development \| 1914 External Genitalia \| 1914 Female \| 1921 External Genital \| 1927 Female Foetus 15 cm \| 1927 Vagina \| 1932 Postnatal Ovary
Male: 1887-88 Testis \| 1904 Ovary and Testis \| 1904 Leydig Cells \| 1906 Testis vascular \| 1909 Prostate \| 1912 Prostate \| 1914 External Genitalia \| 1915 Cowper’s and Bartholin’s Glands \| 1920 Wolffian tubules \| 1935 Prepuce \| 1935 Wolffian Duct \| 1942 Sex Cords \| 1943 Testes Descent \| Historic Embryology Papers \| Historic Disclaimer

| Uterus Development Animation | original page

Some Recent Findings

Adult Dimensions

A recent study using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has accurately measured the dimensions of the adult vagina.^[3]

"Seventy-seven MRI scans were performed on 28 women before gel application to establish baseline vaginal measurements. Average dimensions were calculated for each woman and for the population. The influence of potential covariates (age, height, weight and parity) on these dimensions was assessed. ...Mean vaginal length from cervix to introitus was 62.7 mm. Vaginal width was largest in the proximal vagina (32.5 mm), decreased as it passed through the pelvic diaphragm (27.8 mm) and smallest at the introitus (26.2 mm)."

Abnormalities

Magnetic resonance image (Axial T2-W) OHVIRA syndrome showing uterine didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and ectopic ureter on MR imaging in a 17-year-old girl.

Mayer- Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome

(MRKH) Abnormality of development of the female genital tract: partial or complete absence (agenesis) of the uterus; absent or hypoplastic vagina; normal fallopian tubes, ovaries, normal external genitalia and normal female chromosome pattern (46, XX). Has an incidence of approximately 1 in 4500 newborn girls and has been associated with a microdeletion at 17q12.^[4]

OHVIRA Syndrome

Obstructed HemiVagina and Ipsilateral Renal Anomaly with uterine didelphysis is a syndrome due to lateral non-fusion of the Mullerian ducts with asymmetric obstruction. The presence of vaginal septum also gives rise to other clinical conditions.

OHVIRA Syndrome Magnetic Resonance Images

Endocrine Disruptors

Endocrine disruptors in female reproductive tract development and carcinogenesis.^[5]

References

↑ <pubmed>19598112</pubmed>
↑ <pubmed>12332362</pubmed>
↑ <pubmed>16478763</pubmed>
↑ <pubmed>1988902</pubmed>
↑ <pubmed>19709900</pubmed>

Reviews

Articles

Search PubMed

Search Pubmed Oct 2010 "Vagina Embryology" All (3507) Review (251) Free Full Text (228)

Search Pubmed: Vagina Embryology | Vagina Development | vaginal plate development | Mullerian duct

Historic Embryology - Genital
General: 1901 Urinogenital Tract \| 1902 The Uro-Genital System \| 1904 Ovary and Testis \| 1912 Urinogenital Organ Development \| 1914 External Genitalia \| 1921 Urogenital Development \| 1921 External Genital \| 1942 Sex Cords \| 1953 Germ Cells \| Historic Embryology Papers \| Historic Disclaimer
Female: 1904 Ovary and Testis \| 1904 Hymen \| 1912 Urinogenital Organ Development \| 1914 External Genitalia \| 1914 Female \| 1921 External Genital \| 1927 Female Foetus 15 cm \| 1927 Vagina \| 1932 Postnatal Ovary
Male: 1887-88 Testis \| 1904 Ovary and Testis \| 1904 Leydig Cells \| 1906 Testis vascular \| 1909 Prostate \| 1912 Prostate \| 1914 External Genitalia \| 1915 Cowper’s and Bartholin’s Glands \| 1920 Wolffian tubules \| 1935 Prepuce \| 1935 Wolffian Duct \| 1942 Sex Cords \| 1943 Testes Descent \| Historic Embryology Papers \| Historic Disclaimer

| Uterus Development Animation

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, May 2) Embryology Vagina Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Vagina_Development

What Links Here?

[1] <pubmed>19598112</pubmed>

[2] <pubmed>12332362</pubmed>

[3] <pubmed>16478763</pubmed>

[4] <pubmed>1988902</pubmed>

[5] <pubmed>19709900</pubmed>

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