Development of the

Endocrine Glands
ELRAIAH .M.MAKI
MSC. HUMAN ANATOMY

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 pituitary gland
Functionally, the pituitary is divided
into two distinct lobes that arise from
different embryological sources
pituitary gland
pituitary gland
embryonic development of pituitary gland
 Anterior pituitary derived
from out pouching of
pharyngeal mucosa &
eventually pinches off and
becomes separate from
pharynx (glandular
tissue)
 Posterior pituitary derived
from outgrowth of
hypothalamus (neural
tissue)
 ANTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

 The anterior lobe, (adenohypophysis)

grows upward from the pharyngeal tissue
at the roof of the mouth.
 POSTERIOR PITUITARY GLAND

 The posterior lobe, (neurohypophysis )

grows downward from neural tissue.
 It is structurally continuous with the
hypothalamus to which it remains attached
by the hypophyseal, or pituitary, stalk.
 Thyroid gland development

 The thyroid gland is the first endocrine gland to

develop in the embryo as a median endodermal
thickening in the floor of the primordial pharynx.
 Descends into the neck by downward growth of a
thyroglossal duct , which is an endodermal tube
in the embryo extending between the thyroid
primordium and the posterior part of the tongue.
 The thyroglossal duct is elongated, is bilobed at its
distal end, and forms the thyroid gland.
Thyroid gland
Thyroid gland development
 Thyroid gland development

The thyroid gland descends in the neck, passing

through the foramen caecum ventral to the hyoid
bone and laryngeal cartilages.
For a short time, the thyroid gland is connected to
the tongue by a narrow tube, the thyroglossal duct
By 7 weeks, the thyroid gland has assumed its
definitive shape and is usually located in its final site
in the neck
By this time, the thyroglossal duct has normally
degenerated and disappeared.
 Thyroid gland development

A pyramidal lobe of the thyroid gland extends

superiorly from the isthmus in approximately 50%
of people
A pyramidal lobe differentiates from the distal
end of the thyroglossal duct and attaches to the
hyoid bone by fibrous tissue and/or smooth muscle-
the levator muscle of thyroid gland (Levator
glandulae thyroidea)
Parafollicular cells are derived from the neural
crest via the ultimobranchial body in the fourth
pharyngeal pouch and then migrate into the thyroid
gland.
PARATHYROID GLAND

 Inferior parathyroid glands develop as the result

of proliferation of endodermal cells in the third
pharyngeal pouch.
 Superior parathyroid glands develop as the result
of proliferation of endodermal cells in the fourth
pharyngeal pouch.
development of Thyroid gland and
parathyroid
development of Thyroid gland
 Thyroglossal Cyst
Cysts in the tongue may be derived from
remnants of the thyroglossal duct
Thyroglossal duct cyst :
is a cyst in the midline of the neck resulting
from lack of closure of a segment of the
thyroglossal duct.
 It occurs most commonly in the region below the
hyoid bone. As the cyst enlarges, it is prone to
infection.
Occasionally, a thyroglossal cyst ruptures
spontaneously, producing a sinus as a result of an
infection of the cyst.
 development of Pancreas
 Starts to develop at the 4th week.
 Develops from 2 buds.
 Ventral arises in common with hepatic diverticulum (bud).
 Dorsal arises cranial to the ventral one, at the dorsal aspect of the
duodenum.
 development of Pancreas
 The ventral bud shift dorsally with duodenum rotation.
 The 2 buds switch their ducts.
 Ventral bud forms the uncinate process (accessory duct).
 Dorsal bud form the head, neck, body and tail (main duct).
 HISTOGENESIS OF THE PANCREAS
 The parenchyma of the pancreas is derived from the
endoderm of the pancreatic bud. Which forms a network of
tubules.
 The icini begins to develop from cell clusters around the
ends of these tubules.
 The pancreatic islets develop from cells that separate from
the tubules and come to lie between the icini.
 The connective tissue sheath and interlobular septa of the
pancreas develop from surround splanchnic mesenchyme.
 Insulin secretion begins during the early fetal period (10
weeks)
ANOMALIES OF THE PANCREAS
 Accessory pancreatic tissue, is most located in
the wall of the stomach or duodenum.
 Anular pancreas, turn around duodenum and
cause obstruction of the duodenum.
GONADS
1. TESTIS
2. OVARY
 DEVELOPMENT OF THE GONADS

The epithelial lining of the celomic

cavity on either side of the
mesentery of the gut proliferates
forming a “Gonadal or genital
ridge”.
- The germ cells appear in the wall
of the yolk sac on the 3rd week &
reach the gonadal ridge along the
dorsal mesentery of the gut on
the 6th week of intrauterine life.
- By the arrival of the germ cells
the gonadal ridge proliferates
forming “primitive sex cords”.
- The sex of the gonad cannot be
known at this stage, therefore, it
is known as “ the indifferent
gonad”.
 DEVELOPMENT OF THE TESTIS
 The primitive sex cords proliferate & anastomose with one another forming “testis
cords” which are formed of the epithelial cells of the celomic cavity & the germ cells.
 Testis cords separate from the epithelial lining of the celomic cavity & become
surrounded by a fibrous layer which develops to give tunica albuginea of the testis.
 Testis cords bend to form horseshoe seminiferous tubules. Their ends remain straight
forming the straight tubules & become connected to rete testis.
 The seminiferous tubules start to function, acquire a lumen & produce sperms from the
germ cells after puberty.
 Epithelial cells in the seminiferous tubules form Sertoli cells.
Descent of the testis:
The testis is connected to the scrotal swelling by caudal genital
ligament & a fibrous cord called “gubernaculum testis”. The
continuous shortening of the gubernaculum pulls the testis from
the upper part of the abdomen to the scrotum.
The testis is found in:
- The iliac fossa on the 3rd month of IU life.
- The inguinal canal on the 7th month of IU life
- The superficial inguinal ring on the 8th month of IU life.
- The scrotum on the 9th month of IU life.
 The peritoneum lining
the scrotal swelling
forms a sac known as
“processus
vaginalis”(vaginal
process).
 With the descent of the
testis, the neck of the sac
is approximated &
obliterated so that a
small separate sac of
peritoneum incompletely
surrounds the testis
forming tunica
vaginalis testis.
Congenital anomalies of the testis:
1) Undescended testis (cryptorchidism).
2) Maldescended testis: The testis may be found
at the dorsum of penis, the anterior abdominal
wall, front of thigh or perineum.
3) Congenital inguinal hernia.
4) Congenital hydrocele.
 DEVELOPMENT OF THE OVARY
- The primitive sex cords degenerate & become replaced by vascular
fibrous tissue which forms the permanent medulla.
- The epithelium of the celomic cavity proliferates & become thicker.
It forms columns of cells known as cortical cords.
- The cortical cords split into separate follicular cell clusters
surrounding germ cells & form together primordial follicles.
 DEVELOPMENT OF THE DUCTS OF
THE GONADS
2 ducts are formed in male & female embryos:
mesonephric (Wolffian ) &
paramesonephric (Mullerian) duct.
In male embryo:
- Mullerian duct degenerate (except the
uppermost part which forms appendix
testis & lowermost part which forms
prostatic utricle).
- Wolffian duct:
- Its upper part becomes markedly
convoluted forming the epididymis.
- The middle part forms the vas deferens.
- The lower part forms a small pouch which
forms the seminal vesicle.
- The terminal part forms the ejaculatory
duct.
- (The upper most part of the duct forms
appendix epididymis).
- Mesonephric tubules opposite the
developing testis forms efferent ducts
which become connected to rete testis.
In female embryo:
- Wolffian duct degenerates (except the most caudal part which remains connected
to the uterus or vagina & if enlarged it forms Gartner’s cyst).
- Mullerian duct:
- Its upper vertical1/3 (lateral to wolffian duct) & middle 1/3 (horizontal & in front
of Wolffian duct) form the uterine tube.
- The lower 1/3 of both ducts fuse together & forms a single tube which forms the
uterus & the upper part of the vagina.
- The lower part of the vagina develops from the sinovaginal bulbs which develop
from the definitive urogenital sinus.
 Adrenal gland
two distinct regions:
An outer cortex
An inner medulla
 the medulla and cortex are functionally different
endocrine organs, and have different
embryological origins.
 The medulla is derived from ectoderm (neural
crest).
 while the cortex develops from mesoderm

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