Development Parts of Female Reproductive System S-IV RM45

Repro Mod Week III

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

 At the end of the lecture, students should be able to :

 Know the precursor and migration of primordial germ cell

 Define the location and division genital ridge

 Mention the differentiation in development of male and female genital tract

 Describe the development of female genital ducts

 Discuss the development and differentiation of Paramesonephric ducts and

development uterus and vagina

Primordial Germ Cells:

 The primitive germ cells are developed from the Epiblastic cells

of germ layer during the second week of development.

 These cells reside in yolk sac.

 During the fourth week of development these primitive germ

cells migrate towards the cloaca.

 The cloaca has dorsal mesentery through it is suspended into

intra-embryonic cavity.

Migration of Primordial Germ Cells:

 The primordial germ cells migrate along the dorsal mesentery of

the hindgut to the gonadal ridges.

 During the sixth week, the primordial germ cells enter the

underlying mesenchyme and are incorporated in the gonadal

cords.

 The gondal ridge is formed by the proliferation of mesencymal cells in the

intermediate part of mesodermal layer of embryo. Gonadal Ridge:

 The urogenital ridge is formed on the dorsal abdominal wall by

the proliferation of mesenchymal cells.

 These cell formed an elevated parallel ridge which extends above

downwards and divided into lateral part which develops into urinary system

and Medial part which develops into genital system.

Sex Determination:

 Chromosomal and genetic sex depends on whether an X-bearing

sperm or a Y-bearing sperm fertilizes the X-bearing oocyte.

 Before the seventh week, the gonads of the two sexes are identical in

appearance and are called Indifferent Gonads.

 It is the TDF regulated by the Y chromosome that determines

testicular differentiation.

 The absence of a Y chromosome results in the formation of an

ovary.

Development of the Ovaries:

 Gonadal development occurs slowly in female embryos.

 The X chromosomes bear genes for ovarian development, and an

autosomal gene also appears to play a role in ovarian organogenesis.

 The ovary is not identifiable histologically until approximately the 10th week.

 Gonadal cords do not become prominent, but they extend into the medulla and form a rudimentary rete ovarii.

 This structure and the gonadal cords normally degenerate and

disappear.  Cortical cords extend from the surface epithelium of the developing ovary

into the underlying mesenchyme during the early fetal period.

 This epithelium is derived from the mesothelium.

 As the cortical cords increase in size, Primordial Germ Cells are

incorporated in them.

 At approximately 16 weeks, these cords begin to break up into isolated cell

clusters-Primordial Follicles.

each of which consists of an oogonium, derived from a primordial germ cell,

surrounded by a single layer of flattened follicular cells derived from the

surface epithelium.

 Active mitosis of oogonia occurs during fetal life producing primordial

follicles.

 No oogonia form postnatally.

 Although many oogonia degenerate before birth, the two million or so that

remain enlarge to become primary oocytes before birth.

 After birth, the surface epithelium of the ovary flattens to a single layer of

cells continuous with the mesothelium of the peritoneum at the hilum of the

ovary.

 The surface epithelium becomes separated from the follicles in the cortex by

a thin fibrous capsule, the Tunica Albuginea.

 As the ovary separates from the regressing mesonephros, it is suspended by

a mesentery-the Mesovarium

Development of the Genital Ducts:

 The paramesonephric ducts (mullerian ducts) have a leading role in the

development of the female reproductive system.

 They develop lateral to the gonads and mesonephric ducts on each side from

longitudinal invaginations of the mesothelium on the lateral aspects of the mesonephroi.

Paramesonephric Ducts:

The edges of these paramesonephric grooves approach each other and fuse

to form the paramesonephric ducts.

Uterovaginal Primordium.

The funnel-shaped cranial ends of these ducts open into the peritoneal cavity.

Caudally, the paramesonephric ducts run parallel to the mesonephric ducts until

they reach the future pelvic region of the embryo.

Uterovaginal Primordium:

 Here they cross ventral to the mesonephric ducts, approach each

other in the median plane, and fuse to form a Y-shaped

uterovaginal primordium.

 This tubular structure projects into the dorsal wall of the urogenital

sinus and produces an elevation-the sinus tubercle.

Differentiation of Paramesonephric Ducts:

The paramesonephric ducts develop into the main genital ducts of the

female. Initially, three parts can be recognized in each duct:

• Cranial vertical portion that opens into the abdominal cavity,

• Horizontal part that crosses the mesonephric duct

• Caudal vertical part that fuses with duct of the opposite side.

Differentiation of Paramesonephric Ducts:

 With descent of the ovary, the first two parts develop into the

uterine tube and the caudal parts fuse to form the uterine canal.

 When the second part of the paramesonephric ducts moves

mediocaudally, the urogenital ridges gradually come to lie in a transverse plane.

Development of Uterus:

 After the ducts fuse in the midline, a broad transverse pelvic fold is

established.

 This fold, which extends from the lateral sides of the fused

paramesonephric ducts toward the wall of the pelvis, is the broad

ligament of the uterus.

 The uterine tube lies in its upper border, and the ovary lies on its

posterior surface.

 The fused paramesonephric ducts give rise to the corpus (body) and cervix

of the uterus.

 They are surrounded by a layer of mesenchyme that forms the muscular coat

of the uterus, the myometrium, and its peritoneal covering, the perimetrium.

Development of Vagina:

 Shortly after the solid tip of the paramesonephric ducts reaches the

urogenital sinus, two solid evaginations grow out from the pelvic

part of the sinus.

 These evaginations, the sinovaginal bulbs, proliferate and form a

solid vaginal plate.

 Proliferation continues at the cranial end of the plate, increasing the

distance between the uterus and the urogenital sinus.

 By the fifth month, the vaginal outgrowth is entirely canalized.

 The wing-like expansions of the vagina around the end of the uterus, the

vaginal fornices, are of paramesonephric origin.

 Thus, the vagina has a dual origin, with the upper portion derived from the

uterine canal and the lower portion derived from the urogenital sinus.