Abstract
An: 2013, Nr.3, Articol Nr. 1
Title:
THE COMPARATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GENITAL TUBERCLE IN THE TWO SEXES BETWEEN 7 AND 16 WEEKS
Authors:
F.M. Filipoiu, M.C. Pantu, M. Enyedi, R. Stanciulescu - University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Bucharest, Department of Morphological Sciences, Anatomy Discipline
Gh. Popescu - Emergency Clinical Hospital, Department of Orthopaedics
THE COMPARATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GENITAL TUBERCLE IN THE TWO SEXES BETWEEN 7 AND 16 WEEKS (Abstract): The genital tubercle is formed in both sexes by fusion of the cloacal folds. This leads to a period of ambiguity when an ultrasound scan can detect the genital tubercle in both sexes, in embryos of 8 to 16 weeks, without gender specificity. This situation may lead to confusion in ultrasound sex determination. We have studied 4 male embryos and 4 female embryos of 7 to 16 weeks, taking photographs with a high-resolution digital camera of the developing genital tubercle. The differences in development between the two sexes were studied on mesoscopic images. We concluded that the orientation of the genital tubercle is different in the male and female embryo and may represent a criterion for ultrasound sex determination.
Key words: GENITAL TUBERCLE, MESOSCOPY, FETAL ULTRASOUND