Embryology ๐ถ Flashcards
what are the primary male sex organs?
the testis (2 in number).
where are the testes?
In the scrotum.
what is the function of testes?
produce sperms and secretes male sex hormone.
what are secondary male sex organs?
the epididymis, the vas deferens, the seminal vesicles, the ejaculatory ducts, the urethra and the accessory glands (seminal vesicle, prostate and bulbourethral glands).
what are male external sex organs?
(scrotum & penis; male copulatory organ).
what are female primary sex organs?
the ovaries (2 in number).
where are the ovaries?
In the pelvis
what is the function of the ovaries?
produce ova and secretes female sex hormones.
what are female secondary sex organs?
Uterine tube, uterus, and vagina
what are female external sex organs?
the vulva
what are the parts of the uterine tube?
formed of 4 parts; infundibulum, ampulla (widest part), isthmus (narrowest part) and intramural part.
The uterus
pear-shaped, lies in the pelvis, formed of 3 parts (fundus, body and cervix) and its wall consists of 3 layers (endometrium, myometrium & perimetrium).
The vagina
acts as female copulatory and birth canal, its upper end surrounds the cervix which divides it into 4 fornices (anterior, posterior, and 2 lateral).
what does a mature sperm consist of?
The mature sperm consists of:
๏ท Head:
- Contains nucleus (has the haploid number of chromosomes; 22 X or 22 Y).
- Covered by acrosome (head cap) which contains enzymes for penetration of the coverings of the ovum.
๏ท Neck.
๏ท Tail: consists of:
- Middle piece (contains mitochondrial sheath which produces energy needed for sperm motility).
- Principal piece (responsible for sperm motility).
- End piece.
what does a mature ovum consist of?
๏ Usually released from the ovary in the stage of 2ry oocyte (contains a haploid number of chromosomes; 22X).
๏ Surrounded by zona pellucida & corona radiata
what is fertilization?
it is the union of the male and female gametes to form the zygote.
Where does fertilization take place?
In the ampulla.
process of fertilization
deposition
transport of sperms
capacitation
acrosome reaction
Deposition
about 200 โ 600 million sperms are deposited in the posterior fornix of the vagina during sexual intercourse
transport of sperms
about 200 โ 300 sperms reach the fertilization site while other sperms die.
capacitation
process by which the sperm acquires the capacity to fertilize the ovum and it takes place in the femaleโs genital tract for 7 hours.
what is the mechanism of capacitation?
removal of the seminal plasma proteins from the cell membrane of the head of sperm.
acrosome reaction
process by which the sperm releases the contents of its acrosome and it takes place around the ovum.
what is the mechanism of acrosome reaction?
release of the following substances:
๏ Hyal-uronidase enzyme: penetrates the corona radiata.
๏ Trypsin-like substance: digest the zona pellucida.
๏ Zona lysine: help the sperm to penetrate the zona pellucida
what are the steps of fertilization?
1) Penetration of corona radiata: by hyal-uronidase enzyme.
(2) Penetration of zona pellucida: Trypsin-like substance digests the zona then zona lysine help the sperm to penetrate the zona.
(3) Fusion of the cell membrane of the sperm and ovum: while the head and tail enter the oocyte.
(4) Zona reaction: once the sperm penetrates the zona this reaction occurs make the zona pellucida impermeable to other sperms.
(5) Completion of the 2nd meiotic division: after entry of the sperm the oocyte completes the 2nd meiotic division to give mature ovum (female pronucleus) and 2nd polar body.
(6) Formation of male pro-nucleus: by the nucleus of the sperm.
(7) Union of the pro-nuclei: to form zygote with 46 chromosomes
what are the results of fertilization?
- The 2ry oocyte completes the 2nd meiotic division.
- Restoration of the diploid number of chromosomes.
- Determination of the sex of the embryo (if the sperm is Y male and if the sperm is X female).
- Determination of the state of health and disease of the embryo.
- The zygote starts cell division (cleavage).
what is dispermy(triploidy)?
it is the fertilization of the ovum with two sperms (69 chromosomes)
what is parthenogenesis?
it is the dividing of the ovum to form the zygote.
what is cleavage?
repeated mitotic divisions of the zygote to increase the number of cells (blastomeres).
what is the site of cleavage?
during passage of the zygote in the uterine tube towards the uterus.
what are the steps of cleavage?
- Repeated cell division: the zygote gives 2 then 4 then 8 blastomeres.
- Formation of morula: after 3 days 16 โ 32 blastomeres are formed. They are surrounded by zona pellucida which has the following functions:
๏ Keep the dividing cells together.
๏ Prevent adhesion between the dividing cells and the uterine tube. - The morula reaches the uterine cavity: about the 4th โ 5th day.
- Formation of blastula (blastocyst):
- Small cavities filled with fluid (from the uterine cavity) appear in between the dividing cells.
- The cavities fuse together to form one large cavity (Blastocele), which separates the blastomeres into 2 groups:
๏ท Trophoblast: thin outer layer which will form the fetal part of the placenta.
๏ท Inner cell mass: an inner group of cells that will give rise to the embryo.
๏ The zona pellucida degenerates and disappears.
what is implantation?
It is the embedding of the blastula in the endometrium.
when does implantation take place?
at the end of the first week up to the end of the second week
where does implantation take place?
in the endometrium of the posterior wall of the body of the uterus near the fundus.
what are the steps of implantation?
- Degeneration of the zona pellucida:
- Cause: enzymes of acrosome reaction.
- Result: exposure of the trophoblast. - Differentiation of the trophoblast into 2 layers:
Inner: cytotrophoblast.
Outer: syncytiotrophoblast - Small spaces called lacunae appear in the syncytiotrophoblast.
- The syncytiotrophoblast has the following features:
-Adhesive power: the trophoblast adheres to the endometrium.
- Histolytic power: by releasing proteolytic enzymes. - Lysis of the glands and connective tissue: forms a defect in the endometrium for implantation of the blastula.
- Lysis of the blood vessels: the blood fills the lacunae.
- After complete implantation: the defect in the endometrium is filled with fibrin clot then the epithelium regenerates.
what are the abnormal sites of implantation?
- intra-uterine (placenta praevia)
- etxra-uterine
what are the intra-uterine sites of abnormal implantation?
Implantation in the lower segment of the uterus
-praevia centralis: cover the internal os completely
-praevia lateralis: away from the internal os
-praevia marginales: cover the internal os laterally
what are extra-uterine abnormal sites of implantation?
-tubal pregnancy
-ovarian pregnancy
-abdominal (peritoneal) pregnancy
what is the site of tubal pregnancy?
the ampulla
what are the causes of tubal pregnancy?
-delay in the transport of the blastula
-early loss in zona pelucida
what are the features of tubal pregnancy?
-Signs and symptoms of pregnancy
-rupture in the uterine tube which leads to internal hemorrhageand and abdominal pain
what may be confused with tubal pregnancy?
appendicitis especially if the tubal pregnancy was in the right tube.
what causes ovarian pregnancy?
: it is either 1ry or 2ry
1ry: the fertilized ovum is directly implanted on the ovary.
2ry: rupture tubal and the blastula is re-implanted on the ovary.
what is the site of abdominal pregnancy?
on the surface of any abdominal organ.
what is the cause of abdominal pregnancy?
usually 2ry to rupture tubal pregnancy.
what are the features of abdominal pregnancy?
the placenta penetrates the wall of the organ leading
to internal hemorrhage.
what is the decidua?
It is the endometrium of pregnant uterus.
what is the structure of decidua?
The endometrium shows decidual reaction (like the secretory phase of the endometrium under the effect of progesterone hormone)
what are the parts of decidua?
decidua basalis: Between the blastula and the muscle wall of the uterus
decidua capsularis: covers the blastula
decidua paretalis: lines the rest of the uterus
what is the fate of decidua basalis?
forms the maternal part of the placenta
what is the fate of decidua paretalis and capsularis?
they fuse and degenerate
what are the changes that happen to the blastula in the second week?
During the 2nd week, the following changes occur in the blastula:
- The trophoblast differentiates into 2 layers:
๏ Syncytiotrophoblast: outer multi-nucleated layer with indistinct cell boundaries.
๏ Cytotrophoblast: inner mono-nucleated cells with clear cell boundaries.
-The embryoblast differentiates into bilaminar embryonic (germ) disc which is formed of:
๏ Epiblast: layer of tall columnar cells close to the cytotrophoblast.
๏ Hypoblast: layer of small cuboidal cells close to the blastocele.
Formation of 2 cavities:
๏ Amniotic cavity appears in the 7th or 8th day within the epiblast. Its roof is formed by amnioblasts (from the epiblasts), while its floor is formed by the epiblasts.
๏ Primary yolk sac cavity: in the 9th or 10th day the original blastocele is transformed into 1ry yolk sac. Its roof is formed by the hypoblast, while its sides and floor are formed by Hauserโs membrane (from the hypoblasts)
explain the formation of the chorionic vesicle.
๏ Extraembryonic mesoderm develops (from cytotrophoblasts) between the trophoblast (externally) and both 1ry yolk sac and amniotic cavity (internally).
๏ Multiple cavities appear in the extraembryonic mesoderm.
๏ They fuse together forming single large cavity called extraembryonic coelom (chorionic cavity) which divides the extraembryonic into:
- Somatic layer: lines the trophoblast & covers the amniotic cavity.
- Splanchnic (Visceral) layer: covering the 1ry yolk sac.
- Connecting stalk: connecting the 2 layers at the caudal end of the embryo. It is the future umbilical cord.
what is the chorion and what is the chorionic vesicle?
The trophoblast with the somatic layer of extraembryonic mesoderm is called chorion and the whole vesicle is now called the chorionic vesicle.
What are the changes during the 3rd week?
โ Changes in the structure of bilaminar embryonic plate:
๏ฒ Development of prochordal plate
๏ฒ Development of primitive streak (Groove)
๏ฒ Development of notochord
โ Formation of 3 germ layers:
๏ฒ Gastrulation
prochordal plate
Site:
โ near the cranial end in the midline
Cause:
โ elongation (in height) of the primary endoderm (hypoblast): โข It is the site of the oropharyngeal membrane
What is the site of the primitive streak?
โ Opacity formed caudally in the midline (from caudal end to middle of the embryo)
Formation of the primitive streak
โ proliferation and migration of the epiblastic cells:
โข Primitive node: the proliferation of cranial end of the primitive streak
โข Primitive pit: depression in the middle of the primitive node
What is the fate of the primitive streak?
โ Diminishes in size and becomes an insignificant structure in the sacrococcygeal region of the embryo
โ Disappears by the end of the fourth week (if it persists, it will lead to the formation of sacrococcygeal teratoma)
What is the definition of notochord?
โ The core around which the vertebral column formed
What is the source of notochord?
โ epiblast of primitive streak & nodes
What is the site of notochord?
โ in the midline between ectoderm & endoderm
What are the stages of formation of notochord?
โ Notochordal process: 17th day
โ Notochordal canal
โ Notochordal plate
โ Notochord: 20th day