Cindy J. M. Hülsman, S. Eleonore Köhler, Gabriela Morosan-Puopolo, Jill P. J. M. Hikspoors, Wouter H. Lamers
Urogenital epithelium replaces the original paramesonephric (Müllerian) epithelium in the human fetal vagina. We re-investigated this cell replacement histologically and with three-dimensional reconstructions. In the lesser pelvis, both Müllerian ducts fuse to form the uterovaginal canal. Its large caudal “head” is flanked by the locally widened Wolffian ducts. In the 9th week, the urogenital epithelium that covers the Müllerian tubercle differentiates into small, dense-staining basal cells and columnar “clear cells” apically. Mesonephric (Wolffian-duct) outlet epithelium in contact with clear cells degenerates and is replaced by clear-cell epithelium. Meanwhile, the small cells of the urogenital-sinus epithelium form a funnel that physically contacts the underlying uterovaginal head, locally breaks down its basement membrane, and establishes a bridgehead. Here, extensive cell mixing of urogenital and Müllerian cells produces a “transformational” epithelium with regressing Müllerian and healthy urogenital cells as components. After spreading throughout the vaginal epithelium, the urogenital cells near their incursion site under the Wolffian-duct outlets begin to produce the bilateral “vaginal plates.” Its cells surround the transformational epithelium as a deflated double-layered cell plate. Where the vaginal plates contact the transformational epithelium, the epithelial cell layer thickens, its surface becomes rugged, and large regressive cells become numerous. The number of regressive cells drops precipitously in the adjacent vaginal plates, implying that this band of cells functions as a “purging zone.” Once the purging process reaches the midline, the vaginal epithelium consists of urogenital cells only. Their arrangement as a deflated double-layered cell plate temporally occludes the vaginal lumen.
{"title":"The Development of the Human Female Reproductive Tract: Part 2—Vagina","authors":"Cindy J. M. Hülsman, S. Eleonore Köhler, Gabriela Morosan-Puopolo, Jill P. J. M. Hikspoors, Wouter H. Lamers","doi":"10.1002/ca.70015","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ca.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Urogenital epithelium replaces the original paramesonephric (Müllerian) epithelium in the human fetal vagina. We re-investigated this cell replacement histologically and with three-dimensional reconstructions. In the lesser pelvis, both Müllerian ducts fuse to form the uterovaginal canal. Its large caudal “head” is flanked by the locally widened Wolffian ducts. In the 9th week, the urogenital epithelium that covers the Müllerian tubercle differentiates into small, dense-staining basal cells and columnar “clear cells” apically. Mesonephric (Wolffian-duct) outlet epithelium in contact with clear cells degenerates and is replaced by clear-cell epithelium. Meanwhile, the small cells of the urogenital-sinus epithelium form a funnel that physically contacts the underlying uterovaginal head, locally breaks down its basement membrane, and establishes a bridgehead. Here, extensive cell mixing of urogenital and Müllerian cells produces a “transformational” epithelium with regressing Müllerian and healthy urogenital cells as components. After spreading throughout the vaginal epithelium, the urogenital cells near their incursion site under the Wolffian-duct outlets begin to produce the bilateral “vaginal plates.” Its cells surround the transformational epithelium as a deflated double-layered cell plate. Where the vaginal plates contact the transformational epithelium, the epithelial cell layer thickens, its surface becomes rugged, and large regressive cells become numerous. The number of regressive cells drops precipitously in the adjacent vaginal plates, implying that this band of cells functions as a “purging zone.” Once the purging process reaches the midline, the vaginal epithelium consists of urogenital cells only. Their arrangement as a deflated double-layered cell plate temporally occludes the vaginal lumen.</p>","PeriodicalId":50687,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Anatomy","volume":"39 1","pages":"112-131"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12747650/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144976974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Godard C W de Ruiter, Robert J Spinner, Xavier Sala-Blanch, Miguel A Reina
The microvasculature of peripheral nerve not only is important for the understanding of the development of compression syndromes, but it plays a critical role in the evolution of other nerve pathologies, including, for example, the distribution of intraneural ganglion cysts and lymphoma. We investigated the anatomical course of vessels around the human sciatic nerve and its bifurcation in eight human cadavers. Specifically, the presence of fenestrations on the epineurium and paraneurium's thickness in relation to the intraneural vessels was investigated. The sciatic, tibial, peroneal and sural nerves at the level of the bifurcation are surrounded by different layers, including the epineurium and paraneurial layers. Multiple fenestrations were observed in all membranes surrounding these nerves, which formed openings for the transfer of adipocytes and vessels from one compartment to the neighboring one. The openings were relatively large compared to the size of the vessels. In conclusion, vessels always travel through a natural opening in the paraneurial and epineurium. These vessels are important connections between the extrinsic and intrinsic nerve vasculature. In addition, the fenestration provides an important anatomical explanation for the possibility of transfer of anesthetic agents or different nerve pathologies, including intraneural ganglion cyst and tumors.
{"title":"Natural Openings in the Paraneurium and Epineurium of the Human Sciatic Nerve and Their Relationship to the Entry and Exit of Blood Vessels. A Microanatomical Study.","authors":"Godard C W de Ruiter, Robert J Spinner, Xavier Sala-Blanch, Miguel A Reina","doi":"10.1002/ca.70021","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ca.70021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The microvasculature of peripheral nerve not only is important for the understanding of the development of compression syndromes, but it plays a critical role in the evolution of other nerve pathologies, including, for example, the distribution of intraneural ganglion cysts and lymphoma. We investigated the anatomical course of vessels around the human sciatic nerve and its bifurcation in eight human cadavers. Specifically, the presence of fenestrations on the epineurium and paraneurium's thickness in relation to the intraneural vessels was investigated. The sciatic, tibial, peroneal and sural nerves at the level of the bifurcation are surrounded by different layers, including the epineurium and paraneurial layers. Multiple fenestrations were observed in all membranes surrounding these nerves, which formed openings for the transfer of adipocytes and vessels from one compartment to the neighboring one. The openings were relatively large compared to the size of the vessels. In conclusion, vessels always travel through a natural opening in the paraneurial and epineurium. These vessels are important connections between the extrinsic and intrinsic nerve vasculature. In addition, the fenestration provides an important anatomical explanation for the possibility of transfer of anesthetic agents or different nerve pathologies, including intraneural ganglion cyst and tumors.</p>","PeriodicalId":50687,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Anatomy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}