DEVELOPMENT

OF
MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
  Gonad :
 Testis.
 Genital Ducts:
Prostatic urethra
 Epididymis.
 Vas deferens.
 Urethra.
 Genital Glands:
 Seminale vesicle.
 Prostate.
 Bulbourethral Glands.
DEVELOPMENT OF GONADS
 During 5th week: gonadal
development occurs.
 Until 7th week: gonads
are similar in both sexes
 Gonads are derived from
3 sources:
1. Mesothelium
(mesodermal epithelium
lining the coelomic cavity)
2. Underlying mesenchyme
3. Primordial germ cells
INDIFFERENT GONADS
 Gonadal ridge: a bulge on the
medial side of mesonephros
produced by:
1. Proliferation of mesothelium
(cortex)
2. Proliferation of mesenchyme
(medulla)
 Gonadal (primary sex) cords:
The proliferating mesothelial
cells fuse and penetrate the
underlying mesenchyme to form
gonadal cords.
3. Primordial germ cells:
endodermal cells of the yolk
sac migrate along dorsal
mesentery of hindgut to
gonadal ridges & become
incorporated into gonadal cords.
DEVELOPMENT OF TESTIS
The Y chromosome has a testis-
determining factor (TDS) that
differentiates gonad into
testis.
At 7th week:
 Regression of cortex &
differentiation of medulla into
testis.
 Gonadal cords condense &
extend into medulla
(Medullary cords) to form
seminiferous cords.
 The characteristic feature is
the development of a thick
fibrous capsule (tunica
albuginea) that separates the
enlarging testis from
mesonephros.
 DEVELOPMENT OF TESTIS
 Seminiferous cords develop into:
semineferous tubules
 Semineferous tubules remain solid
until puberty.
puberty Its walls are
composed of:
1. Sertoli cells: derived from surface
epithelium of testis (mesothelial
cells)
2. Spermatogonia: derived from
primordial germ cells
 By eighth week, mesenchyme
surrounding semineferous cords
Germ cells
Mesothelial Cells
gives rise to interstitial cells (of
Mesenchymal cells
Leydig) secreting testosterone.
DEVELOPMENT OF MALE GENITAL DUCTS

Leydig’s cells Sertoli cells

Testosterone (8th
Müllerian inhibiting substance
week)
(Anti- Müllerian hormone) (7th week)
1) Masculine differentiation of
mesonephric duct: Suppression of development
epididymis, of paramesonephric
vas deferens, seminal glands, (Müllerian) duct
ejaculatory duct.
2) Masculine differentiation
of external
genitalia
 DEVELOPMENT OF MALE GENITAL
GLANDS
1. SEMINAL GLAND:
mesodermal outgrowth from
mesonephric duct.
2. PROSTATE GLAND:
endodermal outgrowth from
prostatic urethra.
3. BULBOURETHRAL
GLAND: endodermal
outgrowth from spongy
urethra.
Stroma & Smooth muscles in
2 & 3 are derived from
surrounding mesenchyme
Genital tubercle: produced from
mesenchyme at the cranial end of
cloacal membrane. It elongates to
form a primordial phallus
Urogenital folds: develop on each
side of cloacal membrane
Labioscrotal swellings: develop
on
each side of urogenital folds Urogenital
membrane

INDIFFERENT STAGE
OF
EXTERNAL
GENITALIA
(from 4th to 7th week)
 DEVELOPMENT OF MALE EXTERNAL
GENITALIA
(stimulated by testosterone)
 Begins at 9th week
 Complete differentiation
at 12th week:
week
1. The phallus enlarges to
form the penis
2. The urogenital folds fuse
to form the spongy
(penile) urethra
3. The labioscrotal folds
(swellings) fuse to form
the scrotum
DESCENT OF TESTIS
 Internal descent

Inguinal canal

Labioscrotal fold

External descent

Scrotum
DESCENT OF TESTIS
 Gubernaculum:
a mesenchymal band
extending from inferior pole
of gonad to labioscrotal fold.
 Inguinal canal: a pathway
formed by gubernaculum
through layers of anterior
abdominal wall.
 Processus vaginalis: a
peritoneal fold passing
through inguinal canal before
testis to facilitate its descent.
 INTERNAL DESCENT OF
TESTIS
 Definition: Descent of
testis from posterior
abdominal wall to deep
inguinal ring.
 Time: During 12th week
 Cause: a relative
movement resulting from
elongation of cranial part
of abdomen away from its
Inguinal canal
caudal part (future pelvic
cavity).
EXTERNAL DESCENT OF
TESTIS
 Definition: Descent of
testis from deep inguinal
ring, through inguinal
canal, to scrotum
 Time: Begins in 7th month
and takes 2 to 3 days
 Causes:
1. Controlled by androgens.
2. Guided by gubernaculum.
3. Facilitated by processus
vaginalis.
4. Helped by increased
intra-abdominal pressure
resulting from growth of
abdominal viscera.
 EXTERNAL DESCENT OF
TESTIS
1. More than 97% of full-term new
born males have both testes in
scrotum.
2. During first 3 months after birth,
birth
most undescended testes
descend into scrotum.
3. No spontaneous descent occurs
after the age of 1 year.
year
EXTERNAL DESCENT OF
TESTIS
Complete descent of testis
is associated by :
 Degeneration of

gubernaculum.
 Obliteration of stalk of

processus vaginalis.
 Persistence of part of

processus vaginalis
surrounding the testis in
the scrotum to form
“tunica vaginalis”
 CRYPTORCHIDISM
(UNDESCENDED TESTIS)

 Incidence: is up to 30% of
premature & 3-4% of full term
males
 Cause: deficiency of
androgens.
 Common sites: look to figure
 Complications:
1. Sterility, if bilateral.
2. Testicular cancer (20-44%).
 CONGENITAL INGUINAL
HERNIA
 Definition: Herniation of a
loop of intestine through a
non-obliterated processus
vaginalis.
A: incomplete B:
complete (in scrotum)
 Cause: The processus
vaginalis does not Failure of closure of processus vaginalis

obliterate & remains in