Sex cords
In embryogenesis, the sex cords, (primitive sex cords or gonadal cords) are structures that develop from the gonadal ridges. After sexual differentiation, at day 49, the sex cords in males become the testis cords by the action of the testis-determining factor protein, which helps to develop and nourish the Sertoli cells. The testis cords are precursors to the rete testis. They play several different roles in the development of the male genitals.[1]
| Sex cords | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Precursor | gonadal ridge |
| Gives rise to | testis cords, cortical cords |
| System | Reproductive system |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | chorda sexualis primordialis gonadalis |
| TE | E5.7.1.1.0.0.7 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
In females the sex cords become the cortical cords, also called secondary cords. After further development they become the ovarian follicles.
The primitive sex cords originate from the proliferation of the epithelium of the two gonadal ridges. These epithelial cells (from the gonadal ridges) will penetrate and invade the underlying mesenchyme to form the primitive sex cords.[2] This occurs shortly before and during the arrival of the primordial germ cells (PGCs) to the paired gonadal ridges.[3]
References
- Yao HH, Capel B (2002). "Disruption of testis cords by cyclopamine or forskolin reveals independent cellular pathways in testis organogenesis". Dev. Biol. 246 (2): 356–65. doi:10.1006/dbio.2002.0663. PMC 4073602. PMID 12051821.
- Sadler, T.W. (2010). Langman's medical embryology (11th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott William & Wilkins. pp. 246–247. ISBN 9780781790697. OCLC 227928523.
- Sadler, T.W. (2015). Langman's medical embryology (13th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer. ISBN 9781469897806. OCLC 885475111.
