Morphogenesis of penis and spongy urethraduring human gestation

Alba Rocío Valencia; Manuel  García Florez

doi:10.22490/24629448.7540

Vol. 21 No. 41 (21): International Issue

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2023-12-16

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Morphogenesis of penis and spongy urethraduring human gestation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22490/24629448.7540

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Article (before OJS)

Alba Rocío Valencia

Manuel García Florez https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5168-3102

Background. Every year, approximately 500,000 children in the world are born with
congenital abnormalities of the urinary system and kidneys. Therefore, pediatricians and
urologists must understand the normal processes that lead to male sexual differentiation.
Objective. The aim of this study was to describe in detail the process that occurs during
masculinization of the fetus, which leads to the formation of male structures under normal
conditions. Methods. Fifty-four fetuses with gestation periods between four and 18 weeks
were collected, which were considered normal, did not have any signs of external anatomic
abnormalities or any alteration in their development, and were a product of spontaneous
abortions and tubal pregnancies. The urogenital sinus region was collected and prepared
for scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution optical microscopy to observe the
cellular characteristics of the urogenital fold during external development in male embryos.

Results. This work shows the formation of the glans and spongy urethra in a detailed man-
ner from the eighth week of embryonic development, carefully describing the role of the

labioscrotal folds and the fusion of the walls of the urogenital fold during the subsequent

stages of development to form the proximal part of the urinary tract. Conclusion. The for-
mation of the penile urethra from the urethral fold and its posterior fusion have a probable

role of ectodermal cells, in addition to the endodermal origin established previously.

urogenital system, sry gene, sex differentiation, sex determination processes, gestational age.

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Valencia , A. R., & García Florez , M. . (2023). Morphogenesis of penis and spongy urethraduring human gestation. NOVA Biomedical Sciences Journal, 21(41). https://doi.org/10.22490/24629448.7540

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