7 - Week 1+2 - Embryology
7 - Week 1+2 - Embryology
7 - Week 1+2 - Embryology
Embryology
Embryology: is the science that is concerned with human origin and development from the zygote to birth
Human development begins by fertilization of an ovum by a sperm to form the zygote, then it will
undergo changes to produce a human
Puberty age when secondary sex characteristics appear (pubic hair) 12-15 in females & 13-16 in males
Menarch: first menstruation
Gametogenesis: is the process of producing gametes (Gametes have haploid number of chromosomes)
Spermatogenesis Sperms in males (from testes), Oogenesis Oocytes in females (from ovaries)
Oocyte: the female germ cell produced by ovaries, Secondary oocyte: the mature oocte
Sperm: the male germ cell produced by testes (pl.spermatozoa)
Embryo: is the developing human during all early stages of development
Zygote: the diploid cell (2n) formed by union of an oocyte and a sperm. It is the beginning of a human
being.
Fertilized ovum: secondary oocyte impregnated by a sperm
it is difficult to determine when fertilization occurred exactly
Human embryonic stem cells are pluripotent: able to differentiate into different cell type
Zygote is a totipotent cell
Morula: an embryo at day 3, consists of 12-32 cells. (cluster of cells resembling a mulberry)
At day 3 an embryo is formed of cluster of cells that resembles a mulberry.
Blastocyct:
1. Morula enters the uterus I
2. Inside morula a fluid filled cavity (blastocystic cavity) is formed
3. Blastocyst contains inner cell mass (= embryoblast) that will for the embryo
Conceptus: is the whole products of conception since fertilization = embryo + membranes (placenta)
Primordium: the first indication of an organ or structure
Embryonic period: till end of week 8
Fetal period: ninth week to birth Differentiation and growth occurs in fetal period
Functional maturation of organs and rate of body growth are high in 3rd and 4th months
Increase in weight in terminal months
Trimester: period of pregnancy consists of 3 calendar months 9 months are divided into 3 trimesters
Abortion: expulsion of embryo or fetus before being viable
Viable: mature enough to survive outside the uterus
We study embryology To understand the normal reasons of anomalies
Directional terminology and body planes
Anatomical position
Anterior /Posterior, Superior /Inferior, Lateral /Medial
Caudal /Cranial, Dorsal /Ventral
Ipsilateral / Contralateral
Sagittal plane, Coronal section- frontal plane, Transverse section
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First week of development
Fertilization: a complex process ends with mixing of maternal & paternal chromosomes during mitotic
division of the zygote.
Phases of fertilization
1. Passage of sperm through corona radiata.
2. Penetraton of the zona pelleucida-zona reaction.
3. Fusion of plasma cell membranes of the oocyte an the sperm.
4. Completion of the second meiotic division of the oocyte.
5. Formation of the male pronulceus.
6. Break down of pronuclear membranes.
Results of fertilization
1. stimulates the secondary oocyte to complete the 2nd meiotic division producing the second polar body.
2. restores the normal diploid number (46) in the zygote.
3. results in variation of human sericies.
4. determines the chromosomal sex of the embryo.
5. causes metabolic activation of the oocyte, which initiates cleavage of the zygote.
Cleavage
Mitotic cell division of the zygote, 30 hours after fertilization, occurs in the uterine tube.
After two cell stage zygote undergoes a series of mitotic divisions, increasing the number of cells.
These cells which become smaller with each cleavage division, are known as blastomeres.
During cleavage the zygote is still surrounded by zona pellucida.
Cells are loosely arranged cluster till eight cell stage
Compaction: after the 3rd cleavage blastomeres form a compact ball of cells
Compaction is important for intercellular interaction and for later stages of bilaminar disc formation.
Morula (Mulberry)
It is the conceptus formed of 12 to 32 cells, Approximately 3 days after fertilization
Has an inner and outer groups gf cells:
inner cell mass: or embryoblasts, outer cells: flattened surrounding cells which later form trophoblast
Blastocyst
At day 4 morula enters the uterine cavity.
Fluid will pass through the zona pellucida into the intercellular spaces of the inner cell mass.
a single cavity the blastocele/blastocystic cavity forms conceptus at this stage is known as a blastocyst.
Blastomeres separated into two parts:
1. Embryoblast: Cells of the inner cell mass are at one pole
2. Trophoblasts: the outer cell mass flatten and form the epithelial wall of the blastocyst will give the
embryonic part of placenta
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At day 6 after fertilization:
Hatching: zona pellucida will disappear upon this:
1. Rapid increase in the size of blastocyst
2. implantation is allowed to begin.
Trophoblasts will attach to endometrium of the uterus from embryonic pole
Rapidly after, trophoblasts proliferate and differentiate to form 2 layers:
1. Cytotrophoblast: inner layer
2. Syncytiotrophoblast: outer layer composed of multinucleated protoplasmic mass formed by fusion of cells
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At Day 8 after fertilization:
The blastocyst is completely embedded in endometrium
Bilaminar Germ Disc Circular, transparent has two layers:
1. Epiblast: high columnar cells give the future ectoderm amniotic cavity
2. Hypoblast: cuboidal cells give the future endoderm ecpcoelomic cavity
Exocoelomic cavity (primary yolk sac)
The yolk sac is lined also by hypoblasts from the side of the bilaminar disc
Exocoelomic membrane: formed by flat cells originate from hypoblast, line the primary yolk sac from
cytotrophoblasts side
Amneotic cavity will be formed in epiblast cells and lined by amnioblasts derived from epiblasts forming a
membrane called amnion
Cells of the inner cell mass or embryoblast also differentiate into two layers:
1. Small cuboidal cells adjacent to the blastocyst cavity, known as the hypoblast layer
2. High columnar cells adjacent to the amniotic cavity, the epiblast layer.
Together, the layers form a flat disc.
At the same time, a small cavity appears within the epiblast.
This cavity enlarges to become the amniotic cavity.
Epiblast cells adjacent to the cytotrophoblast are called amnioblasts; together with the rest of the epiblast,
they line the amniotic cavity.
The endometrial stroma adjacent to the implantation site is edematous and highly vascular.
The large, tortuous glands secrete abundant glycogen and mucus.
At the embryonic pole, flattened cells originate from the hypoblast form a thin membrane, the exocoelomic
membrane that lines the inner surface of the cytotrophoblast.
This membrane, together with the hypoblast, forms the lining of the exocoelomic cavity, or primitive yolk
sac (primary umbilical vesicle).
The blastocyst is completely embedded in the endometrial stroma
The surface epithelium almost entirely covers the original defect in the uterine wall.
The blastocyst now produces a slight protrusion into the lumen of the uterus.
The trophoblast is characterized by lacunar spaces in the syncytium that form an intercommunicating
network.
This network is particularly evident at the embryonic pole
At the embryonic pole, the trophoblast still consists mainly of cytotrophoblastic cells
At the same time, cells of the syncytiotrophoblast penetrate deeper into the stroma and erode the endothelial
lining of the maternal capillaries.
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At Days 11 & 12 after fertilization:
These capillaries, which are congested and dilated, are known as sinusoids.
The syncytial lacunae become continuous with the sinusoids, and maternal blood enters the lacunar system.
As the trophoblast continues to erode more and more sinusoids, maternal blood begins to flow through
the trophoblastic system, establishing the uteroplacental circulation.
A new population of cells appears between the inner surface of the cytotrophoblast and the outer surface
of the exocoelomic cavity.
These cells, derived from yolk sac cells, form a fine, loose connective tissue, the extraembryonic mesoderm,
which eventually fills all of the space between the trophoblast externally and the amnion and exocoelomic
membrane internally.
Soon, large cavities develop in the extraembryonic mesoderm then they form a new space known as the
extraembryonic coelom, or chorionic cavity.
This space surrounds the primitive yolk sac and amniotic cavity, except where the germ disc is connected to
the trophoblast by the connecting stalk.
The extraembryonic mesoderm lining the cytotrophoblast and amnion is called the extraembryonic
somatopleuric mesoderm
The lining covering the yolk sac is known as the extraembryonic splanchnopleuric mesoderm.
Cells of the endometrium, become polyhedral and loaded with glycogen and lipids; intercellular spaces are
filled with extravasate, and the tissue is edematous.
These changes, known as the decidua reaction, at first are confined to the area immediately surrounding the
implantation site but soon occur throughout the endometrium.
At Day 13 after fertilization:
Surface defect in the endometrium has healed.
Bleeding may occur at the implantation site as a result of increased blood flow into the lacunar spaces.
Because this bleeding occurs near the 28th day of the menstrual cycle, it may be confused with normal
menstrual bleeding and, therefore, may cause inaccuracy in determining the expected delivery date.
The trophoblast is characterized by villous structures.
Cells of the cytotrophoblast proliferate locally and penetrate into the syncytiotrophoblast, forming
cellular columns surrounded by syncytium.
Cellular columns with the syncytial covering are known as primary villi.
The hypoblast produces additional cells that migrate along the inside of the exocoelomic membrane.
These cells proliferate and gradually form a new cavity within the exocoelomic cavity.
This new cavity is known as the secondary yolk sac.
This yolk sac is much smaller than the original exocoelomic cavity, or primitive yolk sac.
During its formation, large portions of the exocoelomic cavity are pinched off.
These portions are represented by exocoelomic cyst, which are often found in the extraembryonic coelom or
chorionic cavity.
Meanwhile, the extraembryonic coelom expands and forms a large cavity, the chorionic cavity.
The extraembryonic mesoderm fining the inside of cytotrophoblast is then known as the chorionic plate.
The only place where extraembryonic mesoderm traverses the chorionic cavity is in the connecting stalk.
With development of blood vessels, the stalk becomes the umbilical cord.
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