1/2. Embryology Flashcards
What is embryology?
The study of embryos
What are the 3 stages of the development of a human?
- Pre-embryonic phase 0-3 weeks
- Embryonic phase 4-8 weeks
- Foetal phase 9-40 weeks
What are the parent cells called that produce sperm and ova?
- Spermatogonium
- Oogonium
What is the processes that produce sperm and ova called?
- Spermatogenesis
- Oogenesis
What is the end product of meiosis?
-4 unique sperm
OR
-1 ovum and 3 polar bodies
What happens during fertilisation
- Several sperm surround the ovum, only one penetrates.
- Pro nucleus of sperm enters and fuses with the pro nucleus of ovum to give a diploid cell called the zygote
What happens during week 1 of pre-embryonic phase.
- Zygote is formed; divides to form a blastocyst
- Moves through uterine tube to reach uterine cavity
What is the zygote?
- 1st cell in the body
- Diploid
Why are zygotes genetically unique?
It has 23 of the mothers and 23 of the fathers chromosomes
Where do the mitochondria cell organelles come from?
The mother
What happens to the zygote?
Cell divides by mitosis to form a solid ball of cells called the morula
What is an example of a mitochondrial inherited disease?
Lebers hereditary Optic Neuropathy which causes blindness
Why does a morula develop into a blastocyst?
- As the number and size of cells increases, getting nutrition to the central core of cells starts to become difficult.
- Therefore a cavity develops called the blastocystic cavity
What does a blastocyst look like?
- Cavity- blastocystic cavity
- Cells accumulate at one end to form an inner cell mass
- The outer lining is called the trophoblast
Endometrium
Lining of the womb
What aids in the movement of the zygote to uterus?
Uterine tubes have ciliated epithelium to help the ovum move through the reproductive system
How long does the first cell division take?
36 hours
What happens to the time of cell divisions?
Take less time with each successive division
What happens around day 5/6 of the pre-embryonic stage?
The blastula has formed and has reached the uterine cavity ready to implant
When might an ectopic pregnancy occur?
If the cilia function is abnormal
What happens during week 2 of the pre-embryonic phase?
- Implantation occurs in the uterine endometrial layer and placenta begins to develop
- Cells that later form the embryo form a bilaminar disc
- Sacs, membranes and cord to nourish the human conceptus start to form
What does the trophoblast ultimately form?
Chorion and develops finger like processes: chorionic villi
What does the chorion do?
- Implantation process
- Forms part of the placenta in due course
- Secretes human Chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
What does HCG do?
Sends signal to the ovary to keep producing oestrogen and progesterone to ensure the endometrium is not shed
What is used to detect pregnancy?
HCG
What happens at around 7 days?
The blastocyst begins to burrow into the uterin wall
What plays an important role in burrowing?
The chorion
Decidua basalis
Part of the endometrium deep to the implanted conceptus
What happens to maternal blood and urine levels of HCG?
They increase till around 12 weeks gestation
What happens to the inner cell mass?
The cells of the inner cell mass form a 2-layered flat disc called the bilaminar disc
What 2 cavities form?
- Amniotic cavity
- Yolk sac