Embryology Flashcards
What is the embryonic period?
This is weeks 3-8.
How many days are an oocyte and sperm viable for?
An oocyte is viable for one day whilst sperm is viable for three days
Where does fertilisation of the egg occur?
In the ampulla, a widening in the Fallopian tube.
What is the name of a fertilised oocyte?
Zygote
What is the ideal site of implantation?
The posterior uterine wall.
What is cleavage?
This is the first mitotic division in which results in two blastomeres. This occurs approximately 30 hours after fertilisation.
What is the name of the glycoprotein shell which forms around the zygote to recent further sperm entry?
Zona pellucida.
At what point is an in vitro fertilisation zygote stopped for implantation.
When it reaches the stage of the morula.
What can be said about the cells of the morula?
They are totipotent and all have the ability to become any cell type.
What is the name of the two cell types which are present by day 4?
Embryoblast and trophoblast. The trophoblast is the outer cell mass.
What is compaction?
This is segregation of the two cell masses. (Embryoblast and trophoblast)
What is the blastocyst cavity?
This is a fluid filled cavity. This fluid is secreted by cells of the trophoblast and also by fluid which enters through the zona pellucida.
What is the importance of hatching?
This occurs around day 5 and means that the size is no longer restricted. It also means that interaction with the uterine surface can occur which leads to Implantation.
At which stage are cells pluripotent and what does this mean?
After differentiation into initial two cell types: embryoblast and trophoblast. This means that whilst cell types are different they still have the capability to become one of many different cell types.
At the end of the first week, what is the main focus for the conceptus?
The main focus is made to establish and maintain the pregnancy so this includes focusing on the placenta as opposed to the embryo.
What is synchiotrophoblast?
This is a multi nucleated sheet which is good for diffusion.
What are the two layers of the bilaminar disk?
Epiblast and hypoblast.
Describe where the amniotic cavity is found.
This is where the embryo will grow and is found at the top of the bilaminar disk. It is surrounded by epiblast cells.
Where is the embryo implanted?
The embryo is implanted in the uterine stroma and so the epithelium is breached. This is an invasive procedure and can lead to bleeding meaning an error in dating can occur.
What does the process of implantation establish?
It establishes maternal blood flow in the placenta. This means the embryo is supported histotrophically and haemotrophically.
What is an ectopic pregnancy? What is the major risk of this?
This is where implantation occurs outside of the uterus in an inappropriate location. These sites do not have endometrium and so implantation can lead to life threatening haemorrhage.
What is the name for the condition where the placenta forms too low in the uterus?
This is called placenta previa.
What is the primative yolk sack?
This is surrounded by cells of hypoblast origin and is in contact with the cytotrophoblast layer.
What are lacunae in the synchiotrophoblast?
These are lakes which will become filled with maternal blood.
What is it that reseals the uterine epithelium after implantation?
Fibrin plug
What is the role of extra embryonic mesoderm?
This pushes the primative yolk sac membrane away from the cytotrophoblast.