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21.5 The external genitalia
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During the third week the cloacal membrane is formed and lies below the umbilical cord.
In the fourth week, as the lower abdominal wall is being formed, the cloacal membrane is shifted caudally by immigrating mesenchyma coming from various sources.
It is now delimited in front by a prominent mesenchymatous eminence with an epithelial covering, the anlage of the future genital tubercle.
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At the end of the 5th week several cloacal folds form on both sides of the cloacal membrane. At their anterior end they join, delimited by the genital tubercle. |
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Fig. 54 - Indifferent external genitalia,
ca. 6th week |
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Legend |
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2
3
4
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Genital tubercle
Cloacal folds
Cloacal membrane |
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Fig. 54
In front, the cloacal membrane is delimited by a swelling, the future genital tubercle, that at the rear continues in the two cloacal folds.
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Fig. 55 - Indifferent external genitalia,
ca. 7th week |
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Fig. 56 - Indifferent external genitalia,
ca. 9th week |
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Legend |
2
5
6
7
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Genital tubercle
Urethral folds
Anal folds
Urogenital orifice |
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8
9
10
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Perineum
Anal orifice
Genital swelling |
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Fig. 55
During the 7th week the urorectal septum (8) subdivides the cloacal membrane, so it is separated into urogenital and anal membranes.
Fig. 56
From the cloacal folds around the urogenital orifice arise the urethral folds and, from the one around the anal orifice, the anal folds. Outside the urethral folds a further prominence arises on both sides, the genital swelling.
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It is important to remember that the morphology of the external genitalia in both sexes is very similar up to the 9th week. |
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