The development of the male genitourinary system: III. The formation of the spongiose and glandar urethra

It is generally agreed that the urethral plate disintegrates, resulting in the urethral groove. This is subsequently transformed into the urethra by fusion of the urethral folds, which flank its sides. Recently, the existence of such a groove and folds has been denied and this challenge to the long...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of plastic surgery 2004-04, Vol.57 (3), p.203-214
Main Authors: Hynes, P.J, Fraher, J.P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Endoderm - physiology
Epithelium - embryology
General aspects
Genitalia, Male - embryology
Humans
Hypospadias
Hypospadias - embryology
Male
Medical sciences
Mesoderm - physiology
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Urethra
Urethra - abnormalities
Urethra - embryology
Urethral folds
Urethral groove
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Summary:It is generally agreed that the urethral plate disintegrates, resulting in the urethral groove. This is subsequently transformed into the urethra by fusion of the urethral folds, which flank its sides. Recently, the existence of such a groove and folds has been denied and this challenge to the long accepted existence of such folds is significant since hypospadias is considered to result from failure of their fusion. The present studies indicate that mesodermal fold formation and its subsequent subepithelial fusion across the midline plays an essential role in urethral tube formation. Disruption of this process readily explains common congenital abnormalities of the urethra.
ISSN:0007-1226
1465-3087
DOI:10.1016/j.bjps.2003.08.017