Development of Male Reproductive Organs

What are the early stages in the development of the testis?

• Suppression of paramesonephric duct 

• Formation of primary sex cords 

• Primary sex cords condense and extend into the medulla of the gonad

• Which forms prominent sex cords

What happens in the intermediate stage of testis development?

Testis cords anatomomose with the rete testis

What occurs during testicular differentiation?

Formation of seminiferous tubules, parenchyma and interstitial tissue

Development of External Genitalia

• What hormone is responsible

• What does the genital tubercle develop into under DHT influence

• What does the cloacal fold divide into

• What structure forms scrotum

• What does the urogenital fold fuse into?

What hormone is responsible: AMH (suppresses female duct development)

Therefore these structures change into:

• Genital tubercle: Elongates to form penis

• Cloacal fold divide into: Urogenital fold and anal fold

• Lateral scrotal swellings form: Scrotum

• Urogenital fold fuse into: Penile urethra

Testicular Decent

• What is the transabdominal phase of testicular descent 

• What is the gubernaculum 

• What happens when the gubernaculum enlarges 

• What directs testicular migration  

• What happens to gubernaculum after descent

What is the transabdominal phase of testicular descent: When the testis moves near the mesonephros and posterior to the abdominal wall

What is the gubernaculum: Ligament that guides the descent of testis

What happens when the gubernaculum enlarges: It anchors to the scrotum and pulls testis through the inguinal ring

What directs testicular migration: Testosterone and genitofermoral nerve secretion

What happens to gubernaculum after descent: It shortens, regresses and its remnant persists in scrotum