Physiology 1021 Lecture Notes - Vas Deferens, Seminiferous Tubule, Ejaculatory Duct

• School: Western University
• Department: Physiology
• Course: Physiology 1021
• Professor: Tom Stavraky

Document Summary

Each cell in the body contains 23 pairs of chromosomes (this includes a pair of sex chromosomes) Sex chromosomes: large x chromosome & smaller y chromosome. The sex of the baby is determined at the point of fertilization. First 6 weeks: male and female embryos contain common (indifferent) gonads (*these structures will eventually form the testes in the male or the ovaries in the female) Two sets of primitive reproductive tracts: the mesonephric or wolffian duct, the paramesonephric or mullerian duct. With the correct cues, these structures will form either the male or female reproductive tracts. *once the testes or ovaries have developed, the reproductive tracts and external genitalia follow. Developing male embryo: at roughly 6 to 7 weeks the presence of the y chromosome causes the indifferent gonads to develop into the testes. Developing female embryo: at about 9 weeks of development the xx chromosomes are activated and ovaries develop.