8. Early Embryology I Flashcards
How does one cell become a multicellular body?
Growth, morphogenesis, and differentiation.
Define morphogenesis
Development of form and structure
Define differentiation
Development and specialisation for function
What is the first two weeks following fertilisation?
The pre-embryonic period
What is weeks 3-9 following fertilisation?
Embryonic period
What is the develop post-9 weeks until birth
Foetal development
What occurs during the pre embryonic period?
Cleavage - formation of morula
Compaction - formation of blastocyst
Implantation
Where does fertilisation occur?
In the ampulla - fallopian tube
Oocyte fertilised to become zygote
What occurs in week 1 following fertilisation?
Cleavage, mitotic cell division begins, zona pellucida forms - glycoprotein shell around zygote so no more sperm can penetrate.
What potency are the cells within week 1?
Totipotent, have capacity to become anything
What occurs during assisted reproductive techniques for fertilisation? What testing can be done at this stage?
Oocytes fertilised in vitro and divide to 4/8 cell stage
Morula transferred to uterus
Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis; cell removed from morula, tested for heritable conditions before placed in mother
What happens during compaction in week 1?
Formation of the first cavity, first differentiation
Blastocyst with cavity, inner cell mass known as embryoblast which forms cells of the body
Outer cell mass trophoblast, cells that support fetus - placenta etc
Zona pellucida outside
What potency are cells after compaction?
Pluripotent, the capacity to become one of many cell types - multilineage potential
What occurs during hatching?
Blastocyst hatches from zona pellucida, no longer constrained free to enlarge and interact with uterine surface to implant
What occurs during implantation?
Conceptus now approx 100 cells, of these 8 form embryo remainder for fetal membranes.