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(now a ventral outpouching of the hind gut) and are usually seen in the 17–20 day embryo, although possible primordial germ cells have been identified at 13 days [8]. The primordial germ cells are ectodermal in origin, having migrated to the allantoic diverticulum from the epiblast, and they retain two functional X chromosomes in contrast to the somatic cells, which possess only one functional X chromosome [9]. From here, they migrate through the mesoderm surrounding the hindgut and into the dorsal mesentery. The final destination is the gonadal ridge, which they reach at about 35 days (Figure 1.4).

Schematic illustration of (a) the floor of the amniotic cavity, the dorsal surface of the bilaminar embryonic disc, revealing the primitive streak and notochord. (b) Intraembryonic mesoderm, generated by the primitive streak and interposed between the floor of the amniotic cavity and roof of the yolk sac, converts the bilaminar embryonic disc into a trilaminar disc. Schematic illustration of migration of primordial germ cells into the genital ridge from the body stalk. Image described by caption. Schematic illustration of (a) the midline section of the embryo after formation of the head and tail folds. (b) A transverse section of the mid-embryo region after formation of the lateral folds.

      The urogenital septum reaches the cloacal membrane at 30–32 days and fuses with the cloacal membrane, dividing the embryonic hindgut into the ventral (anterior) urogenital sinus and dorsal (posterior) rectum.

      The cloacal membrane is also divided, the ventral part forming the urogenital membrane and the dorsal part forming the anal membrane. It eventually ruptures to form the urogenital and anal orifices. The genital folds develop from the anterior part of the cloacal folds, and the anal folds form the posterior component. (Figure 1.8c). The two primitive gonadal streaks proliferate to form a genital tubercle at the ventral tip of the cloacal membrane. These two genital tubercles grow further and must reach a critical mass, or only rudimentary structures will be formed. They then fuse to form the glans of the clitoris. Labioscrotal swellings and urogenital folds develop on each side of the cloacal membrane. As the urogenital septum reaches the cloacal membrane, the labioscrotal folds fuse posteriorly forming the perineal body, which separates the urogenital membrane from the anal membrane, but sexual differentiation at this stage is still indeterminate. Cells from cephalic mesonephric vesicles invade the coelomic epithelium on the medial aspect of the adjacent intermediate mesoderm to induce the formation of the indifferent gonad at 30–32 days [10].

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