Final answer:
The primary and secondary sex cords are involved in the development of reproductive cells and internal sex organs during fetal development. Primary sex cords evolve into male structures while secondary sex cords form parts of the female reproductive system, influenced by hormones like testosterone and estrogen.
Step-by-step explanation:
Primary and Secondary Sex Cords
The primary and secondary sex cords refer to structures in the developing gonads, which are the testes in males and the ovaries in females. These cords are involved in the formation of reproductive cells and the internal sex organs. During fetal development, the bipotential tissues in the gonads can differentiate into either male or female sex organs, based on the presence or absence of certain hormones and genetic factors.
In males, the primary sex cords develop into seminiferous tubules where sperm is produced, under the influence of androgens like testosterone. In females, primary sex cords regress, and the secondary sex cords give rise to structures that form the follicles of the ovaries where eggs are developed. Thus, secondary sex cords play a significant role in female reproductive organ development.
Hormones secreted by the gonads, such as testosterone and estrogen, are crucial in determining the development pathways for the male and female reproductive systems, as they promote the growth of Wolffian ducts in males and Müllerian ducts in females.