The Sex Organs - The Female Sex Organs

Some Homologous Structures

Some Homologous Structures in the Female and Male Sexual Systems Before a baby boy is born, the "male" hormone testosterone transforms his originally undifferentiated embryo, leading to the development of a male body with male sex organs. In case of a baby girl, the absence of testosterone at this stage lets the embryo grow "automatically" into a female body with female sex organs. However, since both male and female sex organs derive from the same embryonic cell mass, they still correspond to each other or, in scientific language, are "homologous." Female Ovaries Urethra Labia minora (minor lips) Labia majora (major lips) Clitoris Bartholin's glands Paraurethral glands ("female prostate") Male Testicles Prostatic urethra Urethral tube of penis Scrotum Penis Cowper's glands Prostate