Fetal topographical anatomy of the female urethra and descending vagina: a histological study of the early human fetal urethra

Annals of Anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : Official Organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft
Hiroshi MasumotoAkio Matsubara

Abstract

Which parts of the male urethra correspond to the female urethra? To resolve this question, we need to understand fetal topographical changes in the urethra, its external sphincter and vagina. The vagina joins the mid-course of the primitive urethra and, later "descends" to the vaginal vestibulum. We examined histological sections of 14 female and 4 male mid-term fetuses. The inferior end of the vagina was consistently embedded in the posterior wall of the urethra at 9-12 weeks. The supero-inferior level of the vaginal merging was lower in larger fetuses. Thus, the sequential variation in levels appeared to reflect the process of vaginal descent. However, in spite of penetration of the vaginal end into the posterior urethral wall, we found no sign of destruction of the urethral wall after vaginal descent in the low-merging types. Before vaginal descent, the female external sphincter extended posterolaterally around the urethra. The vaginal descent is classically regarded as a relative topographical change, but it is likely to be a result of elongation of the proximal urethra in the superior side of the vaginal merging. Conversely, the distal urethra is likely to be incorporated into the vaginal vestibulum by 15 weeks. During th...Continue Reading

References

Feb 1, 1983·The Anatomical Record·T M Oelrich
Aug 1, 1996·Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists·E L Boutin, G R Cunha
Nov 24, 1999·The Journal of Urology·W DorschnerJ U Stolzenburg
Dec 29, 2000·World Journal of Urology·H StrasserA Stenzl
Feb 5, 2004·Journal of the American College of Surgeons·Petros Mirilas, John E Skandalakis
Apr 13, 2004·The Journal of Urology·Selcuk Yucel, Laurence S Baskin
Feb 27, 2007·Annals of Anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : Official Organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft·Futoshi NakajimaGen Murakami
Jul 29, 2008·Clinical Anatomy : Official Journal of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists & the British Association of Clinical Anatomists·Hitoshi NiikuraNobuo Yaegashi
Aug 30, 2008·European Urology·Christian WallnerWouter H Lamers
Sep 20, 2008·International Urogynecology Journal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction·Masao KatoAkio Matsubara

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 1, 2013·Annals of Anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : Official Organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft·Elisabeth J PechrigglHelga Fritsch
May 31, 2014·BioMed Research International·Nobuyuki Hinata, Gen Murakami
Jul 11, 2014·Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy : SRA·Ji Hyun KimBaik Hwan Cho
Nov 9, 2016·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Christine E LarkinsMartin J Cohn
Jan 28, 2017·Anatomy & Cell Biology·Zhe Wu JinJosé Francisco Rodríguez-Vázquez
Feb 15, 2014·Disease Models & Mechanisms·Laura A RunckGéraldine Guasch

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.