Developmental Anomaly of Sex-Organs

ous possession of male and female genital parts is known as hermaphroditism. This condition is known to occur in different degrees. True hermaphroditism, i.e. the occurrence of both ovary and testis, is however rare (Feldman, 1937). Recently we have come across a case of an apparently male person having both testis and uterus. Considering the rare and interesting points exhibited in this case, we are reporting it. Before we describe the case we outline certain facts from the developmental point of view which will enable the case to be easily followed. In the vertebrates, the development of the urinary and genital systems takes place from a common genitourinary ridge. They arise from the intermediate cell mass, a part of the mesoderm. From this the nephric tubules and the genital glands are developed. In the lower vertebrates, the excretory or nephric tubules serve for the conveyance of both urine and the cells of reproduction, as can be seen in the male frog. In the frog if we examine the intermediate cell mass, we find that it is channelled by a canal connecting the coelomic cavity with the myocele. From the dorsal aspect of this channel, nephric tubules develop and from the ventral wall, the glomeruli are formed and protrude into this part of the cavity. In humans, the excretory system is based on this