The Development of Male and Female Accessory Sex Organs

What are the male and female accessory sex organs derived from?

Are they derived from the same embryonic ducts?

Answer:

The male accessory sex organs are derived from the Wolffian ducts, and the female accessory sex organs are derived from the Müllerian ducts.

During fetal development, the male and female accessory sex organs are derived from different embryonic ducts. Specifically, the Wolffian ducts develop into male structures while the Müllerian ducts develop into female structures. This differentiation is directed by the presence or absence of certain hormones and genes.

In the presence of the Y chromosome's SRY gene and testosterone, the bipotential gonads develop into male organs. The Wolffian ducts differentiate into parts of the male reproductive tract, and the Müllerian ducts degenerate. On the other hand, in the absence of these factors, the gonads develop into ovaries, the Müllerian ducts develop into female reproductive structures, and the Wolffian ducts degrade.

This process showcases how the input of hormones can influence the development of homologous structures into distinctly male or female reproductive organs.