Genitourinary system
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(April 2008) |
| Genitourinary system | |
|---|---|
 Some components of the female and male genitourinary system | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | apparatus urogenitalis, systema urogenitale |
| MeSH | D014566 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Thegenitourinary system,orurogenital system,are thesex organsof thereproductive systemand theorgansof theurinary system.[1]These are grouped together because of their proximity to each other,their common embryological originand the use of common pathways. Because of this, the systems are sometimes imaged together.[2]Inplacental mammals(including humans), the maleurethragoes through and opens into thepeniswhile the female urethra empties through thevulva.
The term "apparatus urogenitalis" was used inNomina Anatomica(undersplanchnologia) but is not used in the currentTerminologia Anatomica.
Development
[edit]The urinary and reproductive organs are developed from theintermediate mesoderm.The permanent organs of the adult are preceded by a set of structures that are purely embryonic and that, with the exception of the ducts, disappear almost entirely before the end of fetal life. These embryonic structures are on either side: thepronephros,themesonephrosand themetanephrosof thekidney,and theWolffianandMüllerian ductsof thesex organ.The pronephros disappears very early; the structural elements of the mesonephros mostly degenerate, but thegonadis developed in their place, with which the Wolffian duct remains as the duct in males, and the Müllerian as that of the female. Some of the tubules of the mesonephros form part of the permanent kidney.
Disorders
[edit]
Disorders of the genitourinary system includes a range of disorders from those that are asymptomatic to those that manifest an array of signs and symptoms. Causes for these disorders include congenital anomalies, infectious diseases,trauma,or conditions that secondarily involve the urinary structure.
To gain access to the body,pathogenscan penetrate mucous membranes lining the genitourinary tract.
Malformations
[edit]Urogenital malformations include:
As a medical specialty,genitourinary pathologyis the subspecialty ofsurgical pathologywhich deals with thediagnosisand characterization ofneoplasticand non-neoplasticdiseasesof theurinary tract,male genital tract and testes. However, medical disorders of the kidneys are generally within the expertise ofrenal pathologists.Genitourinarypathologistsgenerally work closely withurologic surgeons.
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Male urogenital development 3D animationonYouTube
- Female urogenital development 3D animationonYouTube
