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The Reproductive System

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Fetal and Neonatal Pathology

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Abstract

The very complex and specific development of the genital system in male and female embryos and fetuses is under genetic and hormonal control. Recently, sex chromosomal and autosomal genes responsible for primary sex differentiation have been discovered, and effects of many hormones on the subsequent development of gonads, ducts and external genitalia are known. Abnormal sex differ-entiantion and malformations due to genetic and hormonal defects are relatively well described. Less is known about the role of environmental factors. A possible relationship between prenatal exposure to exogenous oestrogen-like substances and congenital abnormalities of the urogenital system, and infertility and testicular germ cell tumours in adult life has recently been subjected to much attention (Toppari et al. 1996).

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Authors
  1. Jørn Müller
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  2. Niels Græm
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatric Pathology, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust, 2 Rillbank Crescent, Edinburgh, EH9 1LF, UK

    Jean W. Keeling MB, BS, FRCPath, FRCP Edin, FRCPCH

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© 2001 Springer-Verlag London

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Müller, J., Græm, N. (2001). The Reproductive System. In: Keeling, J.W. (eds) Fetal and Neonatal Pathology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3682-8_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3682-8_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-3684-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3682-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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