Embryogenesis Flashcards
How do cells migrate?
Down concentration gradient of growth factors and cytokines
What are the three broad periods of gestation?
- Ovum
- Embryo
- Foetus
What are the key evens of the ovum period?
fertilisation to the end of the 1st week of gestation
- Transport of zygote from oviduct to uterus
- Multiple mitotic cell division
- Transformation from zygote to morula to blastocyst
- Hatching of blastocyst out of zona pellucida
What is the zona pellucida?
A thick membrane surrounding the blastocyst
What is the cluster of cells at the top of the blastocyst referred to?
Inner cell mass (ICM)
What are the key events which occur during the 2nd week (embryo stage)?
- Blastocyst elongation
- Appearance of germ layers
- Implantation
What are the three germ layers?
- Ectoderm
- Mesoderm
- Endoderm
What is the formation of the germ layers called?
Gastrulation
What are the key events which occur during the 3rd week (embryo stage)?
- Ebryonic body established (tail, head and limb buds)
2. Extra-embryonic membranes formed through folding (amnion, chorion, yolk sac and allantois)
At what stage of development do organs become functional?
Foetal
What does CRL stand for?
Crown to Rump Length (spine length)
What can be used to age embryos?
Somite number
What does cleavage refer to?
Mitotic division inside the zona pellucida
What are the four extra embryonic membranes?
- Amnion
- Yolk sac
- Chorion
- Allantois
What are the cells produced by cleavage called?
Smaller cells called blastomeres.
What governs the pattern of cleavage?
Size of yolk. Avians have large yolk and partial cleavage (meroblastic). Mammals have minimal yolk and total cleavage (holoblastic)
What is the solid cluster of cells caused by cleavage called?
Morula
What are the two changes which differentiate a morula from a blastocyst?
- Blastomeres loose shape, becoming tightly apposed (compaction)
- Blastomeres start secreting into the centre of the morula (blastocoel)
What is the layer of cells surrounding the blastocoel called?
Tropoblast layer
Where does the embryo start developing from?
ICM aka. embryonic disc
What are the forces resulting in hatching of the blastocyst from the zona pellucida?
(except for in rodents and horses)
- Accumulation of fluid
- Enzymes secreted by the trophoblast layer
- Blastocyst contration
What type of junctions are between cells in the ICM?
GAP junction for cellular communication