Gonad

For the cartoon character, see Buster Gonad.
For gonads of non-human organisms, see Sex organ.
Gonad
Identifiers
FMA 18250

Anatomical terminology

a pair of fresh ovaries of Cyprinus carpio placed in dissecting dish

A gonad or sex gland or reproductive gland[1] is an endocrine gland that produces the gametes (germ cells) of an organism. In the female of the species the reproductive cells are the egg cells, and in the male the reproductive cells are the sperm.[2] The male gonad, the testicle, produces sperm in the form of spermatozoa. The female gonad, the ovary, produces egg cells. Both of these gametes, are haploid germ cells.

Regulation

The gonads are controlled by luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, produced and secreted by gonadotropes in the anterior pituitary gland.[3] This secretion is regulated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone produced in the hypothalamus.[4]

Development

Gonads start developing as a common primordium (an organ in the earliest stage of development), in the form of gonadal ridges,[5] and only later are differentiated to male or female sex organs. The presence of the SRY gene,[6] located on the Y chromosome and encoding the testis determining factor, determines male sexual differentiation. In the absence of the SRY gene from the Y chromosome, the female sex (ovaries instead of testes) will develop. The development of the gonads is a part of the development of the urinary and reproductive organs.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sex+gland?r=66
  2. ↑ http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/gonad
  3. ↑ "gonadotropin". The Free Dictionary. Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. Elsevier. 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  4. ↑ John W. Kimball (12 February 2011). "Hormones of the Hypothalamus: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)". Kimball's Biology Pages. John W. Kimball (The Saylor Foundation). Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  5. ↑ Satoh M.; Anat J. (August 1991). "Histogenesis and organogenesis of the gonad in human embryos". PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine) (Abstract). Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan. PMID 1769902.
  6. ↑ "Human Developmental Genetics". Institut Pasteur. Institut Pasteur. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
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