Conception & Fetal Development Flashcards
After ovulation, the ruptured follicle collapses and forms what?
The corpus luteum
What does the corpus luteum do?
Secretes progesterone and oestrogen
What happens to the corpus luteum if pregnancy does not occur?
Degenerates in 10 days, leaving a scar called corpus albicans
What happens to the corpus luteum if pregnancy does occur?
It produces hormones until the placenta takes over the role at about week 10 of pregnancy
Explain the process pre-conception
- ovulation, an oocyte is in the fallopian tube
- spern ejaculated into vagina and some cross the cervical os and entered fallopian tubes
- before fertilisation sperm undergoes two maturational changes
What are the two maturational changes sperm undergoes before fertilisation?
Capacitation and acrosome reaction
Explain sperm maturation - Capacitation
- degeneration of the membrane over the acrosome (sperm head)
- stimulated by chemical within female genital tract
- increases mobility of sperms tail
Explain sperm maturation - acrosome reaction
- binding a sperm to the zona pellicuda triggers the acrosome reaction
- release of enzymes prior to the binding disperse to corona radiate
- following binding enzymes, sperm digests and penetrates a path to egg cell
What is the zona pellicuda?
outer layer of the ovum, jelly-like layer
What is the corona radiate?
The outermost layer of the ovum
What occurs upon entry of sperm during fertilisation?
the ovum nucleus swells, creating the female pronucleus. The sperm nucleus is released in the cytoplasm of the oocyte and the two nuclei approach each other
What makes the female and male nuclei both ‘haploid’?
They contain 23 chromosomes
What are the fused nuclei named as the conceptus (product of fertilisation)?
Zygote
The zygote is ‘diploid’ because..
It holds 46 chromosomes
Within 24 hours what happens to the zygote?
undergoes mitosis and splits into 2 smaller cells
What is the process of the zygote splitting called?
cleavage
What is the name of the smaller cells of zygote called when split?
blastomeres
The zygote continues cleaving, dividing into:
- 2 cells within 24 hours
- 4 cells within 48 hours
- 8 cells within 60 hours
- 16 cells within 72 hours
What is the zygote known as at the point of 16 cell division?
Morula
The zygote structure has not increased in size despite cleavage. How?
The cells become more compact
During the development of the blastocyst (morula) what is the process of cavitation?
occurs where the outer cells secrete fluid into the moral creating a fluid filled cavity