A male infant is found to have the external urethral meatus opening on the ventral aspect of the penile shaft. The underlying embryological defect is failure of fusion of which structures?

• A Urogenital folds (urethral folds) ✓
• B Labioscrotal swellings
• C Paramesonephric ducts
• D Gubernacular attachments

Explanation

Hypospadias results from incomplete fusion of the urogenital folds, which normally close over the urethral groove to form the spongiosa and the penile urethra on the ventral penis; the meatus then opens ectopically along the ventral line of fusion. Labioscrotal swelling failure produces scrotal anomalies such as bifid scrotum, not hypospadias. Epispadias, the dorsal counterpart, is associated with bladder exstrophy due to defective cloacal membrane rupture. Androgen insufficiency is a recognised risk factor for severe hypospadias.

Reference: Langman's Medical Embryology, 14th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.