Clitorophallus
Clitorophallus is a term used in anatomy and embryology to describe the undifferentiated genital tubercle in the early stages of fetal development. This structure eventually differentiates into either the clitoris in females or the penis in males, depending on the presence of certain hormones and genetic factors.
Development[edit | edit source]
During the early stages of embryonic development, the genital tubercle appears as a small, undifferentiated structure. This stage is common to both male and female embryos. The differentiation of the clitorophallus into either the clitoris or the penis is influenced by the presence of androgens, particularly testosterone. In the presence of these hormones, the clitorophallus elongates and develops into a penis. In their absence, it develops into a clitoris.
Hormonal Influence[edit | edit source]
The differentiation process is primarily driven by the sex-determining region Y protein (SRY) gene located on the Y chromosome. This gene triggers the development of the testes in male embryos, which then produce testosterone. The hormone binds to receptors in the genital tubercle, promoting its growth into a penis. In female embryos, the absence of significant levels of testosterone results in the development of the clitoris.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Abnormalities in the development of the clitorophallus can lead to various intersex conditions. For example, androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) occurs when an individual who is genetically male (46,XY) is unable to respond to androgens, leading to the development of female external genitalia despite the presence of testes. Another condition, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), can cause genetic females (46,XX) to be exposed to high levels of androgens, resulting in the masculinization of the external genitalia.
Related Topics[edit | edit source]
- Sexual differentiation
- Genital tubercle
- Intersex
- Androgen insensitivity syndrome
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- Embryonic development
See Also[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
