Embryology Flashcards
Define embryology
The study of progression from a single cell to a baby in 9 months is
called embryology. It includes molecular, cellular and structural
factors
What is an oogonium?
An immature female reproductive cell that gives rise to primary oocytes by mitosis.
What is the chromosome number of an oogonium?
2n
What is the chromosome number of a primary oocyte?
2n x 2
When doe mitosis and differentiation occur in oogenesis?
Fetal period
When does meiosis 1 occur in oogenesis?
Prior to ovulation (puberty)
What is the chromosome number of a secondary oocyte?
nx2
When does meiosis 2 occur in oogenesis?
After fertilisation
What is the chromosome number of an ovum?
2n: n maternal chromosomes and n paternal from sperm cell
Where does fertilisation occur?
Ampullary region of Fallopian tube
Why are spermatozoa not rejected by the female body?
A
What is embryonic age?
Time since fertilisation
What is gestational age
Time since last menstruation, i.e. Embryonic age plus 2 weeks
What is the germinal stage?
The time since fertilisation to the end of the second week
What is the embryonic period?
The time from the start of the third to the end of the eighth week
What is the foetal period?
The time from the stat of the ninth week to birth at 38 weeks
Define blastocyst
Blastocyst: A thin-walled hollow structure in early embryonic development that contains a cluster of cells called the inner cell mass from which the embryo arises.
What must the blastocyst lose before it can implant?
Before the blastocyst can implant it has to loose the zona pellucida. The zona pellucida is thought to prevent the morula/blastocyst adhering to the oviduct. The process of losing the zona pellucida is called hatching
What is the trophoblast?
A layer of tissue on the outside of a blastula, supplying the metro with nourishment and later forming the major part of the placenta
What does the trophoblast form?
Placenta and yolk sac
What does the zone pellucida do?
Stop the morula enlarging
Define histiotrophic nutrition
Nutrition provided to the embryo not from the
maternal blood. Important in humans up to the 12th week
Define haemotrophic nutrition
Nutrition provided by the mother’s blood.
Important in humans from 12th week on
Where does implantation occur?
Normally in the upper part of the body of the uterus, more often on the posterior wall
(Superior and posterior wall of uterine cavity)
When does implantation occur?
6th day in the endometrium
Define ectopic pregnancy
A pregnancy in which the foetus develops outside the uterus
Define placenta previa
A condition in which the placenta partially or wholly blocks the neck of the uterus, so interfering with the normal delivery of a baby
Define cytotrophoblast
Cells in the trophoblast
Define Syncitiotrophoblast
Cells that merge together in the trophoblast
What happens in the second week of development?
The trophoblast differentiates into 2 layers - the cytotrophoblast and
syncytiotrophoblast
The embryoblast forms 2 layers - the epiblast and hypoblast - the
bilaminar embryonic disc
The hypoblast contributes to the formation of two cavities – the yolk sac and chorionic cavity