Embryology Flashcards
What are the two sets of tissue in embryology?
embryonic (which turns into the baby)
extramembryonic
Where is the oocyte fertilised?
oviduct
What is the oocyte surrounded by?
zona pellucida
Define cleavage
the series of mitotic divisions of the zygote, where the cells become smaller every division, thus the mass of the cell remains constant
What are cells that are formed through cleavage called?
Blastomeres
What is compaction?
When the cells are loosely packed and then become tightly packed
What is the morula?
16 Blastomeres
What are the cells in the inside of the morula called?
inner cell mass or embryoblast
What is the trophoblast?
Cells forming on the outside surface of the morula
What gene is expressed in trophoblast cells ut not inner cell mass cells?
Yap gene
this yap gene activates a transcription factor called Tead4
Explain the mosaic model
Cells randomly become inner cell mass cells or trophoblast cells randomly and then migrate to specific area
Explain the positional model
Cells differentiate into ICM or trophoblast cells depending on whether they are in contact with the external environment or not
Explain the polarity model
Cells can divide in two ways:
If cell division is PARALLEL to axis of polarisation, two cells will become trophoblast cells
If cell division is ORTHOGONAL to axis of polarisation, one daughter cell will form trophoblast while apolar cell will form ICM cells
On day 4-5 of development what happens to the blastocyst?
fluid moves through the trophoblast into the centre of the morula through osmotic gradients, which results in a cavity. CAVITATION has occurred. Now the embryo is called the blastocyst with a blastocoel.
What creates the osmotic gradient when the blastocoel expands?
Na+/K+ ATPase forms a TRANSEPITHELIAL gradient
What happens when the embryo hatches too early from the zona pellucida?
ectopic pregnancy
What two different layers does the Icm divide into?
hypoblast and epiblast
What does the epiblast form in the future foetus?
all of the tissues of the human foetus and the extra-embryonic support structures
What does the hypoblast form in the future foetus?
only the extra-embryonic support structures
List the contents of the TROPHOBLAST
cellular trophoblast blastocoel epiblast hypoblast syncytial trophoblast
List the contents of the ICM
cellular trophoblast blastocoel epiblast hypoblast syncytial trophoblast amnion amniotic cavity
What type of cells lines the amniotic cavity?
squamous cells
What is the purpose of the yolk sac?
to nourish the embryo
provides blood cells to embryo
gives rise to germ line that will migrate into the gonads
What is a similarity between all of
ICM, Trophoblast, Epiblast and Hypoblast?
Both have cells completely surrounded by cells and cells are also in contact with space
What is the difference between the ICM+trophoblast compared with the Epiblast+Hypoblast?
ICM and trophoblast differentiate based on position (thus position is crucial)
Epiblast and hypoblast use the mosaic model where cells randomly become epiblast and hypoblast cells and then migrate to correct locations (the position is not crucial)
As the third week of development begins it enters the period of…
gastrulation
Define gastrulation
Gastrulation is the process by which the bilaminar embryo is transformed into one that has 3 germ layers ( ectoderm , mesoderm and endoderm ), all of which are derived from the epiblast.
The ectoderm will give rise to
the skin and nervous system.
The mesoderm will give rise to
bones, muscles and mesenteries.
The endoderm will give rise to
the lining of the gut and large glands such as liver and pancreas.
The first sign of gastrulation is the formation of a
primitive streak
The formation of the primitive streak defines both the
midline and the caudal end of the embryo.
How does the primitive streak form?
The primitive streak begins to form when cells in the epiblast start migrating first towards the midline on the caudal end of the epiblast and then ‘downwards’ towards the hypoblast. As cells from the epiblast reach the primitive streak they change shape and pass through the streak on their way to form the germ layers below the epiblast.
As more and more cells join the stream of movement towards the midline and downwards the primitive streak elongates rostrally (towards the head). Later on, as fewer cells are actively migrating, the primitive streak shortens (so that the tip of the primitive streak is seen as moving backwards towards the tail).
What is the primitive node?
At the anterior end of the primitive streak there is a small, well-defined accumulation of cells that is known as the primitive node . The primitive node is a very important structure that helps guide the development of vertebrates.
Explain how the endoderm is derived:
The first cells to migrate through the primitive streak move first downwards towards the hypoblast, and then sideways underneath the epiblast. These cells push the hypoblast towards the sides of the embryo, pushing the hypoblast cells towards the inner wall of the blastocyst cavity. In this way, the first wave of migrating epiblast cells end up replacing the hypoblast in the embryonic disc giving rise to the endoderm . The cells of the hypoblast have now moved to cover the inside walls of the primitive blastocyst cavity which is now called the yolk sac.
Explain how the mesoderm is formed:
Once the endoderm is formed, the second wave of migrating cells also moves downwards but begin to place themselves between the endoderm and the epiblast. These cells will form the second embryonic germ layer, the mesoderm
Are mesoderm cells tightly packed or loosely packed?
Unlike the ectoderm and endoderm that are formed by tightly packed cells, the cells in the mesoderm are loosely packed, and said to form a mesenchyme.
How is the ectoderm formed?
The remaining epiblast (after the formation of the endoderm and the mesoderm) now becomes known as the ectoderm.
explain the relative location of the ectoderm:
now sitting as the floor of the amniotic cavity
explain the relative location of the mesoderm:
nested between the ectoderm and endoderm
explain the relative location of the endoderm:
forming the roof of the blastocyst cavity which is now called yolk sac
At the rostral end of the trilaminar disc, a depression forms on the head end called the
oropharyngeal membrane
at the caudal end, a depression forms called the
cloacal membrane
Which two structures degenerate giving rise to the openings of the mouth and anus?
oropharyngeal membrane (mouth) and cloacal membrane (anus)
What characteristics do cells of the epiblast have?
While they are part of the epiblast cells have characteristics typical of epithelial cells.
What happens when the epiblast cells enter the primitive streak?
the cells lose their basal lamina, and their apical-basal polarity, change the cell surface cell adhesion proteins they express and become mesenchymal , which means they are able to migrate as individual cells.
What are the parts of the mesoderm in the three layered embryo? (from middle to edges)
axial mesoderm (notochord) paraxial mesoderm (somites) intermediate mesoderm lateral plate mesoderm
As the streak begins to regress, the embryonic disc also elongates so that by the end of gastrulation it has acquired a what shape?
oblong
What are morphogens?
molecules that act at a distance, influencing the differentiation of different body parts.
What are the regions that secrete morphogens called?
organising centres (or organisers)
In mammals what are the 2 main early organisers?
the primitive node of the primitive streak (the tail organiser)
the Anterior Visceral Endoderm ( AVE ) (The head organiser).
Which forms first - the mesoderm or AVE?
AVE
What is the role of the AVE?
involved in patterning head structures and also contributes to the specification of the mesodermal regions that will eventually form the heart.
Where is the AVE derived from?
The AVE is derived from the hypoblast.
Which two structures work together to make the embryonic head?
node and the AVE
Explain the signals produced by the AVE
Signals from the AVE promote the formation of head structures while inhibiting formation of caudal structures.
Explain the signals produced by the node
Signals from the node promote the formation of caudal structures and inhibit the formation of rostral structures.
What are Hox genes?
As cells migrate through the primitive streak Hox genes begin to be expressed around the streak. Hox genes are important in determining the Antero-Posterior (or Rostro-Caudal) axis.
Hox genes are first expressed in the epiblast and then in the germ layers as they are forming. They are expressed in specific patterns that provide a code that tells the embryonic tissue what part of the body to form.
When longitudinal bending occurs - what axis does this happen on?
The flat disc of the trilaminar embryo bends along the rostro-caudal axis, so that if the embryo is seen from its side it is seen to gradually acquire an inverted C-shape.
During longitudinal bending what happens to the endoderm?
As the head and tail move downwards, the endoderm moves towards the middle, forming tubes with blind ends that will eventually become the gut.
Label diagram on pg 122
do it
What will the endoderm differentiate into?
digestive tube
associated glands of the digestive tube, such as the liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
The respiratory tube forms as an outgrowth of the digestive tube, and is therefore also of endodermal origin.
allantois
label diagram on p112
do it
label diagram on p114
do it
label diagram on p118
do it
label diagram on p119
do it
label diagram on p121
do it
label diagram on p123
do it
label diagram on p124
do it
label diagram on p126
do it
Chordamesoderm
forms as a rod-like structure (notochord) along the midline of the embryo, almost all the way to the tip of what will become the head, by cells migrating through node
Paraxial (somitic) mesoderm
will form at both sides of the midline.
Intermediate mesoderm
will form as paired cylindrical structures lateral to the paraxial mesoderm
Lateral plate mesoderm
will form as flattened sheets lateral to the intermediate mesoderm.
Where is the notochord formed?
along the midline up to the level of the hindbrain (to about the level of where the ear will form).
What is the only non-paired mesodermal structure?
the notochord
The notochord plays an important role in the development of the
nervous system
What are three actions of the notochord?
converting overlying ectoderm so it can produce neural tissue
specifying certain cell types in the developing neural tube
influencing cells from the somites to become spinal vertebrae
The paraxial mesoderm gives rise to the
axial skeleton, trunk and limb skeletal muscle, portions of the trunk dermis and vasculature.
When does the patterning of the paraxial mesoderm get established?
as the primitive streak regresses during gastrulation.