EMBRYOLOGY

AND
DEVELOPMENT
OF FEMALE
GENITAL TRACT

THE FEMALE GENITAL SYSTEM

INTERNAL GENITALIA

Ovary
Fallopian tubes
Uterus
Vagina

EXTERNAL GENITALIA

Mons pubis
Labia majora
Labia minora
Clitoris
Vestibule
Urethral orifice
Vaginal orifice
Hymen

 Functionally, the urogenital system can be

divided into two entirely different components:
1. The Urinary system
2. The Genital system
But embryologically, both systems are
interwoven.
Both develop from a common mesodermal ridge
(intermediate mesoderm) along the posterior wall
of the abdominal cavity, and initially, the
excretory duct of both systems enter a common
cavity, the cloaca.

 During the 4th to 7th weeks of development, the

cloaca divides into:
--- urogenital sinus anteriorly
--- anal canal posteriorly

- Separated by urorectal septum

- The tip of the septum forms the perineal body.

Y- chromosome is the key to sexual dimorphism.

Ychromosom
e

SRY: sexdetermining
region on Y

Testisdetermining
factor

GONADS
Sex of embryo is determined at time of fertilization.
Gonads do not acquire male or female characteristics till 7th
week.
Initially appear as genital or gonadal ridges formed by
proliferation of the epithelium and condensation of underlying
mesenchyme.

WEEK

LOCATION

2ND

Originate in the epiblast, start

migrating through primitive streak

3rd

Among endodermal cells in the wall

of the yolk sac.

4th

Amoeboid movement along dorsal

mesentery of hindgut

5th

Arrive at the primitive gonads

6th

Invade the genital ridges

- Primordial cells have an inductive effect on development of

gonad into ovary or testis.
- If they fail to reach the ridges, gonads do not develop.
- Epithelium of genital ridge proliferates, and epithelial cells
penetrate the underlying mesenchyme forming a number of
irregularly shaped cords primitive sex cords.
- Indifferent gonad.

OVARIES

In the absence of Y- chromosome, primitive sex cords disassociate

into irregular cell clusters.
Along with primordial germ cells, they occupy the medullary part of
the ovary, and is replaced later by a vascular stroma.
Surface epithelium of female gonad continues to proliferate.
At 7th week, it gives rise to a 2nd generation of cords called cortical
cords.
At 3rd month, these cords split into isolated cell clusters. Cells in
these clusters proliferate and surround the each oogonium with a
layer of epithelial cells called follicular cells.
Oogonium + follicular cells = primordial follicle

GENITAL DUCTS

INDIFFERENT STAGE

- Both male and female embryos have

mesonephric duct (Wolffian duct)
and paramesonephric duct (Mullerian
duct).

PARAMESONEPHRIC DUCT
Invagination of the epithelium on the
anterolateral surface of the
urogenital ridge.

MOLECULAR REGULATION
- WNT4 is the ovary determining gene.
- Estrogens stimulate the
paramesonephric ducts to form the
uterine tubes, uterus, cervix, and
upper vagina.
- They also act on indifferent external
genitalia to form the labia majora,
labia minora, clitoris and lower
vagina.

GENITAL DUCTS IN FEMALE

Paramesonephric ducts develop into the
main female genital ducts.
Initially:
1. A cranial part that opens into the
abdominal cavity.
2. A horizontal part that crosses the
mesonephric duct.
3. A caudal vertical part that fuses with its
partner from the opposite side.

 With the descent of the ovary, the first

2 parts develop into the uterine tube.
Caudal parts fuse to form the uterine
canal.
When 2nd part moves mediocaudally,
urogenital ridges come to lie in a
transverse plane.
After the ducts fuse in midline, a broad
transverse pelvic fold is established
broad ligament of uterus
Uterine tube lies in its upper border, the
ovary on its posterior surface.

 The fused paramesonephric ducts

give rise to the corpus 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.

VAGINA

 Wing-like expansions around the uterus, the vaginal

fornices, are of paramesonephric origin.
Thus, vagina:
- Upper portion : Uterine canal
- Lower portion : Urogenital sinus
The lumen of the vagina is separated from the sinus by a
thin tissue plate, the hymen. It usually develops a small
opening during perinatal life.
Retention of cranial and caudal excretory tubules in the
mesovarium leads to epoophoron and paroophoron,
respectively.
A part of the mesonephric duct may persist in the wall of
the uterus or vagina may develop into Gartners cyst.

EXTERNAL GENITALIA
In 3rd week, mesenchyme cells
originating in primitive streak
migrate around the cloacal
membrane to form a pair of slightly
elevated cloacal folds.
Cranial to the membrane, the folds
unite to form the genital tubercle.
Caudally, the folds are subdivided
into urethral folds anteriorly and anal
folds posteriorly.

 On either side of the urethral folds,

genital swellings develop. They
develop into the labia majora.
The urethral folds develop into the
labia minora.
The genital tubercle elongates and
develops into the clitoris.
The urogenital groove is open and
forms the vestibule.

DESCENT OF THE OVARIES

Considerably lesser than descent of
testis.
Finally situated just below the rim of
the true pelvis.
Cranial genital ligament forms the
suspensory ligament.
Caudal genital ligament forms the
ligament of the ovary proper and the
round ligament of uterus.

REFERENCES
Langmans Medical Embryology T. W. Sadler
Essentials of Gynaecology Lakshmi Seshadri