Labioscrotal swelling
Labioscrotal swelling is a significant stage in the sexual differentiation process during the embryonic development of mammals, including humans. It is the precursor to the formation of the labia majora in females and the scrotum in males.
Development[edit | edit source]
The labioscrotal swellings appear in the fifth week of gestation and are initially identical in both sexes. They are located on either side of the urogenital folds. The swellings are formed by rapid cell proliferation and fluid accumulation within the mesenchyme, a type of connective tissue.
In males, under the influence of testosterone, the labioscrotal swellings enlarge, move towards each other and fuse in the midline to form the scrotum. This process is usually completed by the ninth week of gestation.
In females, in the absence of testosterone, the labioscrotal swellings do not fuse but grow to form the labia majora. The process is completed by the twelfth week of gestation.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Abnormalities in the development of the labioscrotal swellings can lead to a variety of congenital disorders, including hypospadias, epispadias, and ambiguous genitalia. These conditions can have significant psychological and physical impacts and often require surgical intervention.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
 | This Embryology article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
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 The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes.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
