ABSTRACT
Developmental biology discoveries have advanced our understanding of anatomic details. Although all malformations of the urinary and genital tracts are not yet explained by embryology, some malformations can be related to stages of development. We continue to elucidate genes, proteins, and pathways related to sexual differentiation. In addition, some have been found to be responsible for organotypic features. The understanding of estrogen receptor (ER) status of vulvar tissue is critical to medical and surgical therapy considerations impacting surface integrity of the vulvar epithelium. Continuing elucidation of the embryology and immunohistochemistry of urogenital tissue may be a step toward the development of molecular tools to treat urogenital abnormalities.
