Genital tubercle

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Genital tubercle
genital swelling, mons pubis, clitoris, penis
SystemReproductive system
Identifiers
Latintuberculum phallicum; tuberculum genitale
TEtubercle_by_E5.7.4.0.1.0.1 E5.7.4.0.1.0.1
Anatomical terminology]

A genital tubercle, phallic tubercle, or clitorophallic structure[2] is a body of tissue present in the development of the reproductive system. It forms in the ventral, caudal region of mammalian embryos of both sexes, and eventually develops into a primordial phallus. In the human fetus, the genital tubercle develops around week four of gestation, and by week nine, becomes recognizably either a clitoris or penis. This should not be confused with the sinus tubercle which is a proliferation of endoderm induced by paramesonephric ducts. Even after the phallus is developed (either a penile shaft or clitoral shaft),[3] the term genital tubercle remains, but only as the terminal end of it,[4] which develops into either the glans penis or the glans clitoridis.

In the development of the male fetus, the two sides of the tubercle approach ventrally forming a hollow tube that encloses the

5-alpha-reductase, so that the amount of fetal testosterone
present after the second month is a major determinant of phallus size at birth.

See also

References

External links