Repro 1 Flashcards
Describe the sexual dimorphism between the sexes.
Male - Internal
- testis
- duct system - epididymis, vas deferens, urethra.
- seminal vesicles
- prostate gland
- bulbourethral glands.
Female - Internal
- ovaries
- duct system - Fallopian tubes,uterus, cervix, vagina
Male - external
- penis
- scrotum
Female - external
- vagina
- vestibule
- labia minora/majora
- clitoris
Name two different structures the intermediate mesoderm gives rise to
Urogenital ridge
Embryonic kidney
What is the mechanism behind retroperitoneal gonadal tumours?
Primordial germ cells arise in the yolk sac and migrate along the dorsal mesentry into the retroperitoneum.
If one or a few of them get left behind, then we can see the tumour (potentially).
Give one key gene that is present on the Y chromosome, that is not present on the X chromosome, and what does the expression of this gene drive?
SRY gene on the Y chromosome.
Drives the development of:
- testis
- internal and external genitalia (male).
Is the SRY gene carried on the Y chromosome?
In its absence, what development occurs?
What must the sex of the baby be?
Yes it’s carried on the Y chromosome.
In its absence, there is development of:
- ovaries
- internal and external female genitalia.
What type of tissue is the urogenital ridge derived from?
Intermediate mesoderm.
Read the following and decide whether the baby would be male or female.
- degeneration of the medullary cords
- no tunica albuginea
- cortical cords develop.
Female.
These are the developments seen in the absence of the SRY gene (hence no Y chromosome, must be 44, XX - note could have trisomies etc)
Describe the location of the paramesonephric ducts, and where do the mesonephric and paramesonephric ducts end?
The paramesonephric ducts are located near the mesonephric ducts. There don’t serve any particular purpose.
They both end at the cloaca.
What two structures constitute the embryonic kidney?
Mesonephric ducts AND mesonephric tubules.
What is another name for the mesonephric ducts?
Wolffian ducts.
What maintains the presence of the mesonephric ducts?
The SRY gene.
From where do the ureteric buds sprout from?
Into which structure will these buds ultimately make their own opening?
They sprout from the mesonephric ducts and eventually they will make their own opening into the urogenital sinus.
What is the key difference in the males and females when thinking about the ureteric buds and the mesonephric ducts?
The ureteric buds still sprout from the mesonephric ducts, however the mesonephric ducts begin to regress eventually in the absence of the SRY gene.
The ureteric buds still continue to grow and make their own opening in the urogenital sinus.
What are Müllerian ducts?
Where do they appear?
These are the paramesonephric ducts
They appear as invaginations of the epithelium of the urogenital ridge.
Describe the difference between the cranial and caudal regions of the Müllerian ducts
Caudally they make contact with the cloaca
Cranial they open up into the abdominal cavity, and can be involved in PID.
From what structures is the uterus derived from?
Name an abnormality with the uterus in terms of fusion etc.
Derived from the Müllerian ducts growing towards each other and fusing.
If there is a problem with the fusion of the Müllerian ducts, can end up with a Bicornate uterus.
What exactly is a Bicornate uterus?
During fusion of the Müllerian ducts to form the uterus, there should be no septum dividing the uterus. However, if there is an abnormality with this fusion, a septum can exist that divides the uterus into two.
This is called Bicornate uterus.
What substance is secreted from the which structure that causes regression of the paramesonephric ducts?
Müllerian Inhibiting Substance is released from the Testis.
This ensures the Müllerian ducts regress.
What structures do the wolffian ducts become in man?
What is the fate of these ducts in the absence of the Y chromosome?
They become the prostate in man, and in the absence of the Y chromosome, they regress - the SRY gene keeps them but no Y chromosome = no SRY.