Embryology, sexual differentiation and defining reproductive tracts Flashcards
Is there any differences in reproductive development in the first 5 weeks in males and females?
- no
- development is the same
At 5 weeks the embryo is composed of 3 primitive germline layers. Label them in the image below using the labels below:
endoderm
ectoderm
mesoderm
1 = ectoderm 2 = mesoderm 3 = endoderm
At 5 weeks the embryo is composed of 3 primitive germline layers, then endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm. The mesoderm has 3 separate parts, using the labels below, label them:
paraaxial mesoderm
intermediate mesoderm
lateral plate mesoderm
1 = paraaxial mesoderm flanking the embryo’s future vertebral column 2 = intermediate mesoderm which is just lateral to it 3 = lateral plate mesoderm which is the most lateral of all
What is formed from the mesoderm which is how the urinary tract and reproductive system forms?
1 - male gonads
2 - female gonads
3 - gonadal ridge
4 - urogenital ridge
4 - urogenital ridge
The urinary tract and reproductive system forms from the mesoderm, specially the urogenital ridge. The ridges run parallel to embryo’s future vertebral column. These then organise into a cylinder of mesoderm called what, and what are the ducts within this area called?
1 - nephrogenic cord with nephrogenic ducts
2 - gonadal ridge with nephrogenic ducts
3 - nephrogenic cord with gonadal ducts
4 - nephrogenic cord with nephrogenic channels
1 - nephrogenic cord with nephrogenic ducts
The urinary tract and reproductive system forms from the mesoderm, specially the urogenital ridge. The ridges run parallel to embryo’s future vertebral column. These then organise into a cylinder of mesoderm called the nephrogenic cord. The majority of the nephrogenic cord will form the urinary. tract, but there is a part that will go on to form the reproductive systems, what is this called?
1 - male gonads
2 - female gonads
3 - gonadal ridge
4 - urogenital ridge
3 - genital/gonadal ridge
The reproductive develops the same way in the first 5 weeks for males and females. At week 6 what happens that determines if a baby will become male or female?
1 - primordial germs cells migrate to nephrogenic cords and proliferate
2 - primordial germs cells migrate to gonadal ridge and proliferate
3 - primordial germs cells migrate to nephrogenic ducts and proliferate
4 - primordial germs cells migrate to urogenital ridge and proliferate
2 - primordial germs cells migrate to gonadal ridge and proliferate
- in the gonadal ridge they proliferate
At week 6 primordial germ cells from the wall of the yolk sac have migrated to the the gonadal ridge, where they proliferate. In addition to this, what other important duct is formed at week 6 that will then go on to form the female reproductive tract?
1 - paramesonephric ducts
2 - wolffian ducts
3 - urogenital ducts
4 - gondal ducts
1 - paramesonephric ducts
At what week do we get the development of the male testes or the female ovaries?
1 -week 3
2 - week 5
3 - week 7
4 - week 10
3 - week 7
At week 7 the sex chromosomes begin expressing genes that will determine the foetus will be male or female. What gene is responsible for determine that that foetus will develop into a male?
1 - sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene
2 - wolffian gene
3 - testis determining gene
4 - leydig gene
1 - sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene
- provides the code for the testis determining factor
At week 7 the SRY gene on the Y chromosome (sex determining chromosome) is responsible for providing the instructions for making the sex determining region Y protein. What protein does the SRY gene then go onto produce, that if present determines if the embryo will develop into male or female?
1 - sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene
2 - wolffian gene
3 - testis determining factor
4 - leydig gene
3 - testis-determining factor (TDF), also referred to as the SRY protein
- if TDF is present we develop into males
The SRY gene on the Y chromosome (sex determining chromosome) is responsible for providing the instructions for making the sex determining region Y protein. The SRY gene provides instruction for producing the protein testis-determining factor (TDF), also referred to as the SRY protein. If this protein is not present, when does the female reproductive system begin to develop?
1 -week 3
2 - week 5
3 - week 7
4 - week 10
3 - week 7
- same as males, but SRY gene is not present so they turn into female gonads
At week 6 primordial germ cells from the wall of the yolk sac to the the gonadal ridge occurs where they proliferate and the paramesonephric ducts (female reproductive system) forms. If there is an absence of Testis-determining factor (TDF) protein the female reproductive system does not develop any further until week 12. What are the 2 processes that then take place (one of which quickly degenerates)?
- in the undifferentiated gonads primitive sex cords are formed (later degenerate)
- corticol cords form
At week 6 primordial germ cells from the wall of the yolk sac to the the gonadal ridge occurs where they proliferate and the paramesonephric ducts (female reproductive system) forms. If there is an absence of Testis-determining factor (TDF) protein the female reproductive system does not develop any further until week 12. At week 12 the following occurs:
- in the undifferentiated gonads primitive sex cords are formed (later degenerate)
- cortical cords form
The female reproductive tract continues to develop between weeks 12-16. What happens to the cortical cords during this time period?
1 - cortical cords cluster together and form primordial follicles
2 - cortical cords cluster together and form primordial fallopian tubes
3 - cortical cords cluster together and form primordial uterus
4 - cortical cords cluster together and form primordial vagina
1 - cortical cords cluster together and form primordial follicles
- these then become ovarian follicles
At what time point does the development female eggs stop until puberty?
- 5 months
At birth there will be thick connective tissue capsule surrounding the ovary, what is this called?
- tunica albuginea
There are two layers of the peritoneum, what are these called?
- parietal peritoneum = outer layer attached to the abdominal wall
- visceral peritoneum = inner layer wrapped around the internal organs
The peritoneum is a tissue that lines your abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in your abdomen. This can be further subdivided into the parietal peritoneum (outer layer attached to the abdominal wall) and visceral peritoneum (inner layer wrapped around the internal organs). These folds can create areas within the abdomen, placing some organs at the front and some at the back, what are these 2 areas called?
1 - intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal
2 - extraperitoneal and retroperitoneal
3 - retroperitoneal and intraperitoneal
4 - intraperitoneal and superiorperitoneal
3 - retroperitoneal and intraperitoneal
- intraperitoneal = situated in the intraperitoneal space lined by the peritoneum
- retroperitoneal = behind the intraperitoneal space and not lined by the peritoneum
The peritoneum is a tissue that lines your abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in your abdomen. This can be further subdivided into the parietal peritoneum (outer layer attached to the abdominal wall) and visceral peritoneum (inner layer wrapped around the internal organs). These folds can create to areas within the abdomen, placing some organs at the front and some at the back. These are called:
- intraperitoneal = situated in the intraperitoneal space lined by the peritoneum
- retroperitoneal = behind the intraperitoneal space and not lined by the peritoneum
Are both the intra and retroperitoneal organs freely moveable?
- no
- intraperitoneal organs = usually mobile
- retroperitoneum organs = usually fixed to the posterior abdominal wall
The peritoneum is a tissue that lines your abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in your abdomen. This can be further subdivided into the parietal peritoneum (outer layer attached to the abdominal wall) and visceral peritoneum (inner layer wrapped around the internal organs). These folds can create to areas within the abdomen, placing some organs at the front and some at the back, these are called:
- intraperitoneal = situated in the intraperitoneal space lined by the peritoneum
- retroperitoneal = behind the intraperitoneal space and not lined by the peritoneum
The location of the uterus means that is is also covered by the peritoneum. Is the uterus intro or retroperitoneal?
- body of the uterus is surrounded by peritoneum, hence it lies intraperitoneal, important for it to move during pregnancy
- rectum is posterior to the peritoneum, hence it is retroperitoneal
The peritoneum creates a double fold over the fundus and body of the uterus, creating a false ligament, stabilising their position and anchoring them to the walls and floor of the pelvic cavity. What is this ligament called?
1 - Broad ligament
2 - Uterine ligament
3 - Ovarian ligament
4 - Suspensory ligament
1 - Broad ligament
What is a mesentary?
1 - blood vessels in peritoneum
2 - neovasculature within peritoneum
3 - double fold of peritoneal tissue
4 - third layer of peritoneum
3 - double fold of peritoneal tissue
- allows blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics to pass through
A mesentery is a double fold of peritoneal tissue that suspends an organ. There are generally 2 key functions of the mesentery, what are they?
1 - suspend organs and provide a conduit for neovasculature
2 - suspend and protect organs
3 - suspend and provide lipids to organs
4 - provide a conduit for neovasculature and protect organs
1 - suspend organs and provide a conduit for neovasculature
The peritoneum creates a double fold over the fundus and body of the uterus, creating a false ligament, stabilising their position and anchoring them to the walls and floor of the pelvic cavity, this ligament is called the broad ligament. The double fold also creates a mesentery over the fundus and body of the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, providing support and a conduit for blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics. This double fold over these female reproductive system can be further subdivided into 3 sections. Using the labels below label the image:
mesovarium
mesosalpinx
mesometrium
1 = mesosalpinx (salinx is greek for trumpet) covers the uterine tubes 2 = mesometrium which covers the uterus 3 = mesovarium cover the ovaries
There are 3 main layers within each ovary, what are they?
1 - central zone = medulla: vascularised, hilus cells
2 - peripheral zone = cortex
3 - superficial zone = tunica albuginea
Which cells in the ovary produces the hormones?
1 - stem cells
2 - hilus cells
3 - immune cells
4 - epithelial cells
2 - hilus cells
At week 6 primordial germ cells from the wall of the yolk sac to the the gonadal ridge occurs where they proliferate. In addition to this, paramesonephric ducts are formed at week 6 that will then go on to form the female reproductive tract. What hormone, when present will inhibit the development of the female reproductive tract?
1 - anti-mullerian hormone
2 - wolffian hormone
3 - testis determining hormone
4 - testosterone
1 - anti-mullerian hormone
There are 2 major ducts that develop in male and female reproduction embryology:
= paramesonephric (Mullerian) ducts
= mesonephric duct
Which of these ducts goes on to develop male and female reproductive organs?
- paramesonephric (Mullerian) ducts = female
- mesonephric duct = male
As the paramesonephric duct (female ducts) develops, what happens at the cranial end of this duct?
1 - doesn’t fuse forming uterus
2 - doesn’t fuse forming fallopian tubes
3 - fuses and forms early spinal tract
4 - fuses and forms early ovaries
2 - doesn’t fuse forming fallopian tubes
- opens into the peritoneal cavity (hence why covered by peritoneum)
As the paramesonephric duct (female ducts) develops, the cranial end of this duct does not fuse and produces the fallopian tubes (figure B) that open into the peritoneal cavity (hence why covered by peritoneum). What happens at the caudal end (tail) of the paramesonephric ducts?
1 - doesn’t fuse forming uterus
2 - doesn’t fuse forming fallopian tubes
3 - fuses and forms uterus and superior vagina
4 - fuses and forms early ovaries
3 - fuses and forms uterus and superior vagina
- merges with the urogenital tube (will become the bladder and genital tract)
As the paramesonephric duct develops, the cranial end of this duct does not fuse and produces the fallopian tubes (figure B) that open into the peritoneal cavity (hence why covered by peritoneum). At the caudal end of the paramesonephric ducts they fuse, forming the uterus and superior vagina. The paramesonephric duct will then fuse with the urogenital tube (will become the bladder and genital tract). What is the point at where the paramesonephric duct and urogenital tube fuse called?
- sinovaginal bulb
At week 7 there is a protein present that is sequenced by a specific gene that triggers the switch from female to male reproductive development. What is the gene called and the protein that determines this distinction?
1 - sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene
2 - wolffian gene
3 - testis determining gene
4 - leydig gene
1 - sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene
- Testis-determining factor (TDF) is produced. If present then male gonads develop
At week 7 primordial germ cells from the wall of the yolk sac to the the gonadal ridge occurs where they proliferate. In addition to this, what other important duct is formed at week 6 that will then go on to form the male reproductive tract?
- mesonephric duct
At week 6 primordial germ cells from the wall of the yolk sac to the the gonadal ridge occurs where they proliferate and the mesonephric ducts (male reproductive system) forms. The mesonephric duct then lead to the development of sex cords into what cord?
1 - ampulla cords
2 - seminal cords
3 - testicular cords
4 - testes cords
3 - testicular cords
- will eventually become the vas deferens
At week 6 primordial germ cells from the wall of the yolk sac to the the gonadal ridge occurs where they proliferate and the mesonephric ducts (male reproductive system) forms. The mesonephric duct then lead to the development of sex cords into testicular cords, which will eventually become the vas deferens. What then happens to the testicular cords?
- detachment from outer mesothelium where tunica albuginea develops
- septum begins to develop
At week 7 the testicular cords detach from the mesothelium, which will then form the tunica albuginea, followed by the development of the septum. further development leads to the formation of the following structures, label them on the image below using the labels:
rete testis seminiferous tubules efferent tubule mesonephric duct tunica albuginea septa
1 = tunica albuginea 2 = seminiferous tubules 3 = rete testis 4 = efferent tubule 5 = mesonephric duct 6 = septa (divides testes into lobules)