Embryology Flashcards
What happens on days 1-2?
Fertilisation: repeated mitotic divisions (cleavage)
What happens on day 3?
Morula is formed which is a ball of cells that are identical post-fertilization
What happens on day 5?
Blastocyst is formed which has a cavity called the blastocele and 2 cell layers:
- Trophoblast (contributes to placenta)
- Embryoblast (inner cell mass that forms baby)
What happens on day 6?
- Blastocyst loses its membrane (zona paloca) which allows it to stick to the uterine epithelium
- Cells of blastocyst differentiate + become something else once stuck to epithelium (esp. in trophoblastic layer)
- Implantation: invasion of uterine lining + wall
- This must happen fast because it needs the foeto-maternal exchange membrane (deep in uterine epithelium) for blood supply + nutrients
What happens on day 8?
Blastocyst becomes a synctiotrophoblast (multi-nucleated cell mass) with an amniotic cavity + embryoblast has become a bilaminar disc including epiblast (top layer) + hypoblast (bottom layer)
This invades the endometrium using digestive enzymes that break down proteins + fats
What happens on day 9?
The synctiotrophoblast has gone further into endometrium + started to invade blood vessels
Primary yolk sac is formed when a layer of cells peels off bottom layer which can bring some nutrition in
Where can ectopic pregnancies occur?
Uterine tubes but also peritoneal cavity because ovulation takes place into there
Can carry on developing if its gets a blood supply breaking down any tissue it wants via digestive enzymes
What happens at day 12?
Implantation has occurred fully + embryo is now called a cytotrophoblast
Finger-like projections called maternal sinusoids formed which will develop into placenta
2 layered disc now has amniotic cavity above + yolk sac below surrounded by extraembryonic mesoderm consisting of cells + ECM for padding (cavities forming within this)
What happens at day 13?
Chorionic cavity formed by cavitation of extra-embryonic mesoderm
Connecting stalk formed of extraembryonic mesoderm (forms future umbilicus which will bring in nutrients)
Primary -> secondary yolk sac
Bilaminar embryonic disc formed (epiblast + hypoblast)
What day is the first day to notice menstrual periods are late?
15
What happens at day 15?1
Prochordal plate (mouth) + cloacal membrane (anus)
Primitive streak + node form from raised areas of epiblast undergoing rapid cell division; primitive streak extends from cloaca to primitive node
Primitive groove + pit are indentations of ectoderm in centre of streak + node where cells are migrating down
What are the other terms for epiblast and hypoblast?
Epiblast = ectoderm
Hypoplast = endoderm
What is gastrulation?
When epiblast cells from the primitive streak migrate towards the hypoblast -> forms 3 germ cell layers because migrating epiblast cells form the intraembryonic mesoderm + replace the hypoblast
Happens at days 18-24
What membranes remain mesoderm free?
Buccopharyngeal (was prochordal plate)
Cloacal
What forms the notochord? What will it go onto form?
Primitive node/pit cells
Structures in the vertebral column
What will ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm go onto form in the adult?
Ectoderm/epiblast: skin/neural tissue
Mesoderm: paraxial (somite), intermediate (genito-urinary) + lateral plate (serous membranes)
Endoderm/hypoblast: lining of gut tube, respiratory system + urinary system
What range of muscles form from the mesoderm?
Skeletal muscle Bone Connective tissue The heart Urogenital system
What do somites form?
Axial skeleton (skull, vertebrae + ribs), associated muscle + dermis of skins
Each somite is formed by a single spinal nerve + migrate to form parts of the body (explains dermatomal sensory mapping of skin)