VMED 5127

Histology and
Developmental Anatomy

Development, Reproductive
Systems

Dr. Fakhri Al-Bagdadi BVSC. Ph D

Dept. of Comparative Biomedical
Sciences College of Veterinary
OBJECTIVES:
After completing this unit you should be able to:
[Link] the development of the gonads.
[Link] the Indifferent stage and the embryonic formation of the
paramesonephric ducts.
[Link] the transformation of the mesonephroi into functional
structures and organs of the male reproductive system.
[Link] the transformation of the paramesonephric ducts into
functional structures and organs of the female reproductive
system.
[Link] the transformation of the pelvic and phallic parts of the
urogenital sinus into adult structures.
[Link] the development of the external genitalia.
[Link] the descent of the testes, (Cryptorchid)
[Link] the fate of the gubernaculum in both sexes.
Resources
Moore and Persaud
I. Development of The Genital Systems
1. Genetic sex of an embryo is
determined by the sperm that fertilizes the ovum.

[Link] early genital systems of both

sexes are similar, is referred to as indifferent
state of sexual development.
A. Development of Gonads
The
gonads (testes and ovaries) are derived from
three sources, the:
[Link] lining the posterior
abdominal wall.
2. Underlying mesenchyme
Migration
of the
Primordial
Germ cells
from the
yolk sac
into the
embryo
B. Indifferent Gonads
1. The gonad develop from the
mesonephros. 2. Gonadal ridge
develop on the mesonephros [Link]
Gonadal cord, consists of a.
Cortex
b. Medulla.
4. Embryo with
a. XX sex
chromosomes, the cortex differentiates into an ovary
and the medulla regresses.
b. XY, the medulla differentiates into a
testis and the cortex regresses.
5. Primordial Germ Cells
a. Spherical sex cells are in the yolk sac near the
allantois.
Location
and
Extent of
Gonadal
Ridge
Gonadal Cords
6. Y chromosome has a testis-
determining factor (TDF) on the medulla
of the indifferent gonad.
7. TDF
influences the gonadal cords to differentiate
into seminiferous cords
[Link], produced by
the fetal testes, determines maleness.

9. Female sexual differentiation

does not depend on hormones.
10. It occurs
C. Development of the Testes
[Link] cords form the
rete testis. [Link]
gonadal cords – seminiferous cords – looses
connection with the surface epithelium .
3. Fibrous
capsule develop, tunica albuginea.
4. The testis
separates from the mesonephros and becomes
suspended by its mesentery, the mesorchium.
[Link]
seminiferous cords develop into the
seminiferous tubules, tubuli recti, and rete
testis.
1-Spermatogonia
derived from
primordial germ
cells
2-Sertoli cells
derived from the
mesenchyme.
[Link] cells secrete androgenic hormones
, testosterone and androstenedione, to induce
masculine differentiation of the mesonephric
ducts and the external genitalia.
[Link] production is stimulated by
chorionic gonadotrophin.
10. Fetal testes
produce antimullerian hormone (AMH) or
mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS).
11. AMH
is produced by the sustenacular cells, Sertoli
cells, which continues to puberty.
12. AMH
D. The seminiferous tubules
[Link] solid until puberty.
[Link] walls are composed of
two kinds of cells: *Sertoli Cells
*Spermatogonia
a.
Testes surface epithelium provide Sertoli cells.
b.
Spermatogonia, are derived from primordial germ cells
c. Sertoli cells
constitute most of the seminiferous epithelium in the fetal
testis.
d. Adult testis mesothelium is derived from the testis
surface epithelium.
e. The rete testis becomes continuous with 15 to 20
mesonephric tubules that become efferent ductules.
f. These ductules are connected with the
D. Development of Ovaries
1. X chromosomes bear genes for
ovarian development.
2. Gonadal cords and rete ovarii form
and degenerate.
3.
Cortical cords extend from the epithelium of the
developing ovary into the mesenchyme.
4. This epithelium is
derived from the mesothelium.
5. Primordial germ cells incorporate in the cords
6. The cords form the
primordial follicles
7. A cellular cluster consists of an
oogonium derived from the cord
Development
of ovaries in
absence of
TDF
10. No oogonia forms posnatally.
11. Many
oogonia degenerate before birth.
12. Two millions oogonia remain to form primary
oocyte
12. Postnatally, the ovarian epithelium
become continuous with the peritonial mesothelium at
the ovarian hilum
[Link] surface ovarian epithelium was
inappopriatly called germinal epithelium, it is
established that the germ cells differentiate from the
primordial germ cells. [Link]
surface epithelium becomes separated from the
follicles in the cortex by an out side fibrous capsule,
tunica albuginea.
E. Development of Genital Ducts
[Link] and female embryos have two pairs of genital ducts.
a. The mesonephric ducts (wolffian ducts) play role in
the development of the male reproductive system
b. The paramesonephric ducts (mullerian ducts)
play role in the development of the female reproductive
system. [Link] pairs of ducts are present in
the indifferent state. [Link] mesonephric ducts,
which drained urine from the mesonephric kidneys, play an
essential role in the development of the male reproductive
system. 4. Fetal testes
testosterone influences the mesonephric duct to form the,

a. Epididymis from its proximal part

b. Ductus deferens and ejaculatory duct from its distal
part.
5. Mesonephric non functional remnant persits in
Indifferent Gonad and Paramesonephric duct
Primordium of suprarenal glands. Gonadal ridges

Migration of primordial germ cells into developing

[Link] paramesonephric ducts play a role in the development
of the female reproductive system .
7. The paramesonephric ducts form
longitudinal invaginations of the mesothelium on the lateral
aspects of the mesonephroi.
[Link] funnel-shaped cranial ends of these
ducts open into the peritoneal cavity.
[Link] paramesonephric ducts reach the
future pelvic region of the embryo.
[Link] fuse to form a Y-shaped
uterovaginal primordium.
[Link] tubular structure projects into the dorsal wall
of the urogenital sinus and produces an elevation – the sinus
(Müller) tubercle.
F. Development of Male Genital Ducts and Glands
1. The fetal testes produce masculinizing hormones,
a. Testosterone
b. Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS).
[Link] Sertoli cells produce MIS.
3. The interstitial cells produce
testosterone [Link] stimulates the
mesonephric ducts to form male genital ducts
[Link] causes the
paramesonephric ducts to disappear by epithelial mesenchymal
transformation.
[Link] remnant of mesonephric tubules persist are transformed into
efferent ductules.
[Link] ductules open into the mesonephric duct, is transformed
into the epididymis .
8. Distal to the epididymis, the mesonephric duct
become the ductus deferens.
9. The mesonephric duct gives rise to a pair of
seminal gland (vesicle).
[Link] glands secretion nourishes the sperms.
11. The
mesonephric duct gives rise to the ejaculatory duct.
[Link].
a. Endodermal glandular
outgrowths arise from the urethra into the
surrounding mesenchyme.
b. The mesenchyme provide the
stroma and the smooth muscle of the prostate.
[Link] Glands.
a. Outgrowths develop from the spongy part of
the urethra.
b. Adjacent mesenchyme provide the stroma
and the smooth muscle fibers.
c. Their secretions contribute to the semen.
G. Female Genital Ducts and Glands
Female embryos,
1. Mesonephric ducts regress due to absence of
testosterone
2. Paramesonephric ducts develop due to absence of MIS.
3. Female
sexual development does not depend on the presence of
ovaries or hormones.
4. The paramesonephric ducts
a. Its cranial part from the uterine tube
b. Its caudal part form the uterovaginal primordium.
1)This gives rise to the uterus and vagina.
5. The mesenchyme provides the endometrial stroma and
myometrium.
6. Fusion of the paramesonephric ducts
forms,
a. The broad ligament,

b. Two peritoneal
compartments 1)
Rectouterine pouch and the
2) Vesicouterine pouch.
7. Along the uterus side, the mesenchyme
differentiates into the parametrium.
.
H. Female ducts in males
1. Paramesonephric ducts occur in males if
testes fail to develop, due to absence of MIS.
2. Removal of
testes before genital duct differentiation, female
duct system develop. 3. Removal of
ovaries in female embryos have no effect on fetal
sexual development. 4. This
means testes induce musculinity and represses
feminity. 5.
Ovaries are not necessary for primary sex
development
10. Development of Vagina
a. Vaginal epithelium is derived from the urogenital
sinus.
b. Mesenchyme provides the vaginal fibromuscular
wall.
[Link] contact with urogenital sinus, form

a. Sinus tubercle.
b. Sinovaginal bulbs.

12. vaginal plate.

a. Its central
cells form the lumen of the vagina.
b. Its peripheral cells form the
vaginal epithelium.
13. The hymen separates the vaginal lumen from the
G. Auxiliary Genital Glands in Females
1. Urethral growth into the mesenchyme form the urethral glands
and paraurethral glands, correspond to the prostate.
2. Greater vestibular glands growth from the urogenital sinus
correspond to the male bulbourethral glands.
H. Mesonephric Duct Remnants in Females
The cranial end of the mesonephric duct may persist.

1. The epoophoron duct, correspond to efferent

ductules and duct of the epididymis in the male.
[Link] epoophoron
may persist in the mesovarium between the ovary and uterine
tube.
3. Parts of the mesonephric duct, Corresponding
to the ductus deferens and ejaculatory duct, may persist as the
4. Gartner duct along the lateral wall of the uterus and in the wall
of the vagina.
[Link] duct remnants may
I. Development of External Genitalia
1. The external genitalia are sexually undifferentiated.
2. Genital tubercle is present in both sexes at the
cranial end of the cloacal membrane.
[Link]
swellings and urogenital folds develop on each side of
the cloacal membrane.
4. The genital tubercle form a primordial
phallus. 5. Urorectal septum
fuses with the cloacal membrane, it divides the cloacal
membrane into,
a. Dorsal anal membrane
b. Ventral urogenital membrane.

6. The anal and

J. Development of Male External Geniatlia
[Link] indifferent external genitalia is masculinized by the
interstitial cells production of testosterone.
2. The phallus develop to become
the penis. 3. The
urogenital folds form the walls of the urethral groove on the
ventral surface of the penis.
[Link] groove is lined by endodermal cells, of the
urethral plate, extends from the phallic portion of the urogenital
sinus. 5. The urogenital folds form
the spongy urethra. 6. The surface
ectoderm fuses forming the penile raphe and
enclosing the spongy urethra within the penis.
7. Cord forms at the tip the penis, which
canalizes to form the urethra and the uretheral orifice.
8. Circular ingrowth at the
periphery of the Glans penis form the prepuce.
[Link] adherence to the glans cause retraction problem.
K. Development of Female External
Genitalia
1. Estrogens produced by the placenta and fetal
ovaries appear to be involved.
2.
The primordial phallus becomes the clitoris, a
very sensitive sexual organ.
3. The unfused parts of the urogenital
folds form the labia minora.
4. The labioscrotal folds fuse
to form the posterior labial commissure and the
anterior labial commissure.
5. Parts of the labioscrotal
L. Hypospadias
The external urethral orifice is on the ventral surface of
the glans of the penis or on the ventral surface of the
body of the penis (penile hypospadias).
These defects result in failure of canalization of the
ectodermal cord in the glans and/or failure of fusion of
the urogenital folds.
M. Epispadias
Urethra opens on the dorsal surface of the penis.
The urogenital sinus opens
on the dorsal surface of the penis.
Urine is expelled at the
root of the malformed penis.
Development of Inguinal Canals
1. The inguinal canals form
pathways for the testes to descend from the abdomen
into the scrotum.
2. Inguinal canals develop in both sexes because of the
indifferent stage.
[Link] the mesonephros degenerates, a ligament – the
gubernaculum – descends on each side of the
abdomen from the inferior pole of the gonad.
[Link] gubernaculum passes obliquely
through the developing anterior abdominal wall at the
site of the future inguinal canal.
[Link] gubernaculum attaches
caudally to the internal surface of the labioscrotal
swellings (future halves of the scrotum or labia majora).
[Link] process vaginalis, evagination of
peritoneum, develops ventral to the
gubernaculum and herniates through the
abdominal wall along the path formed by the
gubernaculum.
[Link]
vaginal process carries extensions of the layers
of the inguinal canal.

8. In males these layers also form the

coverings of the spermatic cord and testis.
[Link] opening in the transversalis fascia
produced by the vaginal process becomes the
deep inguinal ring.
Descent of Testes
Testicular descent is associated with:
[Link] of the testes and atrophy of the
mesonephroi (mesonephric kidneys), allow
movement of the testes caudally along the
posterior abdominal wall.
2. Atrophy of the paramesonephric ducts
induced by the MIS enables the testes to move
trans abdominally to the deep inguinal rings.
3. Enlargement of the processus vaginalis
guides the testis through the inguinal canal into
the scrotum.
.
[Link] testes descended retroperitoneally
(external to the peritoneum) to the deep inguinal
rings.
[Link] change in position occurs as the
fetal pelvis enlarges and the trunk of the
embryoelongates.

6. Little is known about the cause of testicular

descent through the inguinal canals into the
scrotum.
[Link] process is controlled by androgens
(e.g. testosterone) produced by the fetal testes
[Link] role in testicular descent is uncertain.
9. Forms a path for the processus vaginalis to follow
during formation of the inguinal canal.
[Link] gubernaculum also
anchors the testis to the scrotum and appears to guide its descent
into the scrotum.
11. Testis passage through the inguinal may be due to
increase in intra-abdominal pressure made by abdominal visceral
growth.
12. Testes descent into scrotum is late in
gestation. 13. After the testes
enter the scrotum, the inguinal canal contracts
around the spermatic cord.
14. 97% of full-term newborn males have
scrotal testes. 16. During the first 3 months after
birth, most undescended testes descend into the scrotum.

17. Spontaneous testicular descent does not occur after

20. Vessels form when the testis is high on the posterior
abdominal wall.
21. When the testis descends it carries its ductus
deferens and vessels with it.
22. As the testis and ductus deferens descend,
they are ensheathed by the abdominal wall fascial
extensions.
[Link] extension of the transversalis fascia becomes
the internal spermatic fascia.
[Link] extensions of the internal oblique muscle and
fascia become the cremasteric muscle and fascia.
[Link] extension of the external oblique aponeurosis
becomes the external spermatic fascia.
26. In the scrotum the testis projects into the distal end
of the processus vaginalis.
Descent of Ovaries
1. They descend from the posterior abdominal wall to
the pelvis, just inferior to the pelvic brim.

[Link] gubernaculum is attached to the uterus near the

attachment of the uterine tube.
3.
The cranial part of the gubernaculum becomes the
ovarian ligament and the caudal part forms the round
ligament of the uterus.
[Link] round ligaments pass through the inguinal
canals and terminate in the labia majora.

[Link] relatively small processus vaginalis in

the female usually obliterates and disappears long
before birth. 6. A persistent process is called
Cryptorchidism or Undescended Testes
1. May be unilateral or bilateral.
[Link] testes descend into the
scrotum by the end of the first year.
3. If both testes
remain within of just outside the abdominal cavity, they fail to
mature and sterility is common.
4. Undescended
testes are often histologically normal at birth, but failure of
development and atrophy are detectable by the end of the first
year.
5. Cryptorchid testes may be in the abdominal cavity or
anywhere along the usual path of descent of the testis, but they
are usually in the inguinal canal.
6. The cause of most cases of cryptorchidism is unknown.
7. Deficiency of androgen
production by the fetal testes is an important factor.
8. Cryptorchidism
Congenital Inguinal Hernia
[Link] the communication between the tunica vaginalis and
the peritoneal cavity fails to close, a persistent
processus vaginalis exists.
2.A loop of intestine may herniate through it
into the scrotum or labium majus.
Hydrocele
[Link] the abdominal end of the processus
vaginalis remains open but is too small
to permit herniation of intestine.
2. Peritoneal fluid passes into the patent
processus
vaginalis and forms hydrocele of the testis.
[Link] the middle part of the processus vaginalis
remains open, fluid may accumulate and give rise to a
hydrocele of the spermatic cord.