Physiology 2130 Lecture Notes - Male Reproductive System, Seminiferous Tubule, Vas Deferens
Document Summary
Section 14. 3 fetal development of the reproductive system: each cell in the body contains 23 pairs of chromosomes (shown below) this includes a pair of sex chromosomes. The sex chromosomes consist of a large x chromosome and a smaller y chromosome. If, on the other hand, a sperm carrying the y chromosomes fertilizes the x chromosome bearing egg, then a male will develop (xy): however, development of each respective reproductive tract does not begin immediately after fertilization. Section 14. 4 fetal development of the reproductive system: during the first 6 weeks of development, male and female embryos contain common (sometimes called indifferent) gonads. These structures will eventually form the testes in the male or the ovaries in the female: there are also two sets of primitive reproductive tracts, the mesonephric or wolffian duct and, the paramesonephric or mullerian duct. With the correct cues, these structures will form either the male or female reproductive tracts.
