Embryology Flashcards
Sonic hedgehog gene
Produced: base of limbs (zone of polarizing activity)
Roles:
- A-P axis patterning
- CNS development
Mutation: holoprosencephaly
Wnt-7 gene
Produced: apical ectodermal ridge (at end of each developing limb)
Role: Organize along dorsal-ventral axis
FGF gene
Produced: apical ectodermal ridge
Role: mitosis of underlying mesoderm–> limb lengthening
Homeobox (hox) genes
Transcription regulators (code DNA-binding transcription factors)
Segmental organization of embryo cranial–> caudal
Mutations: appendages in wrong locations
Week 0-10 in development
Day 2= zygote
Day 3= morula
Day 5= blastocyst
Day 6= implantation in endometrium
Week 1= hCG secretion
Week 2= 2 layers (bilaminar disc= epi-, hypoblast)
Week 3= 3 layers (trilaminar disc)
- Epiblast invaginates–> primitive streak
- gastrulation= ecto-, meso-, endodermal layers
Week 4= neural tube closure, heartbeat
- 4 weeks= 4 limbs (limb bud formation)
Week 8= Fetal movement
Week 10= external F/M genitalia
**Weeks 3-8 (embryonic period)= organogenesis, v. susceptible to teratogens (malformations= intrinsic disruptions during embryonic period)
Ectodermal derivatives
Surface ectoderm:
- Epithelium and epidermis
- Anterior pituitary
- Sensory organs of ear
- Lens of eye
- Parotid, sweat, mamillary glands
Neuroectoderm:
- Brain (post. pit), retina, optic nerve, spinal cord
Neural crest cells:
- PNS
- Bones of skull
- Odontoblasts
- Aorticopulmonary septum
- Melanocytes (melanoma= neural-crest derived tumor)
Mesodermal derivatives
- Muscle, bone, cartilage, connective tissue
- Serous linings
- Spleen
- Defects= VACTERL:
- Vertebral defects
- Anal atresia
- Cardiac defects
- Tracheo-Esophageal fistula
- Renal defects
- Limb defects
** Notochord (mesodermal) induces ectoderm–> neuroectoderm (neural plate)–> nucleus pulposus of IV disc
Endoderm
Epithelium of internal structures Luminal epithelium derivatives: - Lungs - Liver, gallbladder, pancreas - Eustachian tube, thymus, Parathyroid, thyroid follicle cells (C cells= mesoderm)
Agenesis
Absent organ d/t absent primordial tissue
Aplasia
Absent organ despite present primordial tissue
Maternal diabetes
- Caudal regression syndrome (anal atresia–> sirenomelia): baby with denervated/weak lower limbs
- Congenital heart defects
- Neural tube defects
Twinning
Dizygotic twins (80%):
- 2 eggs, 2 sperm
- 2 aminiotic sacs, 2 chorions (placentas)
Monozygotic twins (20%):
- Divide at 2 cell stage (0-4 days): 2 + 2
- Divide at Morula (4-8 days): monochorionic, diaminiotic *most common
- Divide at blastocyst (8-12 days): monochorionic, monoamniotic
- Divide after embryonic disc formed (13 days)–> conjoined twins
Placental development
Fetal component:
- Cytotrophoblast: inner layer (cells)
- Synciotrophoblast: outer layer (hCG)
Maternal component:
- Decidua basalis= derived from endometrium; maternal blood in lacunae
Umbilical cord
Allantoid–> umbilical arteries/vein
2 Umbilical arteries: return DEoxygenated blood FROM feturs (internal iliacs) to placenta
1 umbilical vein: supplies oxygenated blood from placenta to fetus
- Drains: ductus venosus–> IVC
Urachal duct
3rd week: yolk sac allantois–> urogenital sinus–> urachus (duct btwn bladder and yolk sac)
- Patent urachus= urine discharge from umbilicus
- Vesicourachal diverticulum= outpouching of bladder (asymptomatic)
Vitelline duct
7th week: vitelline duct connects midgut lumen to yolk sac—> obliterates
- Vitelline fistula= meconium discharge from umbilicus
- Meckel’s diverticulum= partial closure with patent portion in ileum
- Ectopic gastric mucosa–> melena, periumbilical pain, ulcerations
Aortic arch derivatives
1st arch= MAXimal (maxillary= branch of external carotid)
2nd arch= Stapedial (stapedial, hyoid aa)
3rd arch= Common Carotid, proximal internal Carotid (C= 3rd letter in alphabet)
4th arch= 4 limbs (systemic circulation)
- Aortic arch (L), Proximal subclavian (R)
6th arch= pulmonary artery, ductus arteriosus (pulmonary shunt)
Branchial Clefts
ECTODERM
1st= external auditory meatus
2nd-4th= temporary cervical sinuses
- Obliteration by 2nd arch
** persistance cervial sinus–> branchial cleft cyst in lateral neck
Branchial arches
MESODERM= cartilage tissue
1st= Chewing
(muscles of mastication, CN V2 and V3)
- Treacher collins= 1st arch neural crest fails to migrate–> mandibular hypoplasia, facial abnormalities
2nd= Smile
(muscles of facial expression, stapes/styloid/styloihyoid, CN VII)
3rd= Swallow stylishly
(Stylopharyngeus, CN IX)
4th= Simply swallow
(pharyngeal constrictors, cricothyroid, levator veli palatini, CN X= superior laryngeal branch)
6th= Speak
(all intrinsic muscles of larynx but cricothyroid), CNX (recurrent laryngeal branch)
“When at the golden arches, children tend to first Chew (1), then smile (2), then swallow stylishly (3), or simply swallow (4) and then speak (6)
Branchial pouch derivatives
Ear, tonsils, bottom-to-top: 1= ear 2= tonsils 3= inferior (bottom) parathyroids 3= thymus (t= thymus) 4= superior parathyroids (top)
** 3rd pouch ends up below (bottom) 4th pouch (top)
- DiGeorge= abberrant development of 3rd and 4th pouches
- MEN2A= germline mutation of neural crest cells:
- Adrenal medulla (pheo)
- Parathyroid tumor (3rd/4th pharyngeal pouch)
- Parafollicular cells (medullary thyroid cancer)= 4th/5th pouches
Genital embryology
Female= default
- Mesonephros degenerates
- Paramesonephros develops:
- Female internal structures (besides ovaries)
- Mullerian duct abnormal- Ovaries present (secondary sex characteristics) with defects in external genitalia
Male= SRY on Y-chrom
1. Produces Testis-determining factor (testes develop)
- Testes–> sertoli cells–> Mullerian inhibiting factor (MIF)–> suppress development of paramesonephric ducts
- No sertoli cells= no MIF–> have male and female internal genitalia, male external - Testes–> Leydig cells–> mesonephric duct development–> SEED
* * SEED= seminal vesicles, epididymis, ejaculatory duct, ductus deferens (internal structures except prostate)
- No 5-alpha reducase: Testosterone not converted to DHT–> have internal genitalia, NO external genitalia (induced by DHT) or prostate
Leydig cells
Hypothalamus–> GnRH
- -> anteriorpituitary–> LH
- -> Leydig cells–> Testosterone
- -> blood–> inhibits GnRH and LH secretion
- Leydig cell function increases when 1 testis missing–> normal Testosterone (vs Sertoli cell mass= decreased–> less inhibin and ABP, more FSH
Testosterone conversion
- 5-alpha-reductase–> DHT
- aromatase in adipose tissue and leydig–> estrogen
- Also converts androstenedione (Adrenal gland)
DHT==> external genitalia, prostate growth, balding (5-alpha-reductase blocked by finasteride= med for balding, BPH)
Estrogen–> closure of epiphyseal plates
Estrogen sources
- 17-beta estradiol= ovary
- 50-fold increase in pregnancy - Estriol= placenta
- 1000-fold increase in pregnancy: derived from placenta- indicates fetal well-being - Estrone= adipose (aromatization)
- 50-fold increase in pregnancy
Progesterone
Source:
- Corpus luteum (maintains placenta in 1st trimester; stimulated from BhCG)
- Placenta (2nd, 3rd trimester
- Adrenal cortex
- Testes
- decreases myometrial and smooth muscle excitability (decreases contractions)
- maintains endometrium–> implantation
- Ovulation indicated by progesterone–> rise in body temp, thicker cervical mucous production
Decreases estrogen receptor expression
Pituitary stimulation of Progesterone, Estrogen formation
LH: increases Desmolase in Theca Interna
- Cholesterol converted to progesterones, androstenedione
FSH: increases Aromatase in Granulosa cells
- Androstenedione–> estrogen
- Increased estrogen, GnRH receptors on anterior pituitary
- -> LH surge
- -> ovulation (secondary oocyte in metaphase II)
- -> progesterone (corpus luteum)
- No fertilization–> progesterone levels fall–> menstruation
beta-hCG
Source: Syncytiotrophoblast of placenta
Role:
- Maintains corpus luteum for 1st trimester (acts like LH; no luteal stimulation–> abortion)
- Detected in blood 1 week after conception
- Detected in urine 2 weeks after
2nd/3rd trimester= placenta creates estriol/progesterone
- Corpus luteum degenerates
hPL
Human placental lactogen
Source: Syncytiotrophoblast
Role:
- Similar to prolactin, GH
- Increases maternal insulin resistance
- Decreases maternal glucose utilization
- Increases blood glucose–> shunted to fetus
- Increases lipolysis, proteolysis= energy for mom so baby can use glucose
Maternal insulin resistance due to:
- hPL, GH, estrogens, progesterones, glucocorticoids
- Gestational diabetes= unable to overcome insulin resistance
Klinefelter’s syndrome
XXY
Hypogonadism:
- Dysgenesis of seminiferous tubules–> decreased inhibin, increased FSH
- Abnormal leydig cell function–> decreased testosterone–> increased LH–> increased estrogen
Symtoms:
- testicular atrophy
- Eunuchoid body shape, tall, long extremities (Marfanoid habitus)
- Gynecomastia, female hair distribution
- Possible developental delay (determined by number of Xs)
Cryptorchidism
Damage to seminiferous tubules (heat inside body)
- Decreased inhibin–> increased FSH
Leydig cells preserved
- Normal testosterone, LH levels
Pseudohermaphroditism
Female= XX
- Ovaries present
- External genitalia virilized, ambigious
- Causes: congenital adrenal hyperplasia–> increased androgen exposure; maternal androgen administration
Male= XY
- Testes present
- External genitalia female, ambiguous
- Cause: androgen insensitvity (testicular feminization)
True hermaphroditism= very rare (46XX or 47 XXY: ovotestis, ambiguous genitalia)
5-alpha reductase deficiency
Autosomal recessive
Unable to convert testosterone to DHT:
- Children= normal internal genitalia, ambiguous external genitalia
- Puberty= testosterone increase causes masculinization–> growth of external genitalia
Hormones:
- Normal: Testosterone/estrogen, LH may be increased
Kallman syndrome
Defective migration of GnRH cells and olfactory bulb
- Decreased GnRH synthesis in hypothalamus–> lack secondary sexual characteristics (all sex hormones lower)
- Anosmia
Male/female genital homologues
Genital tubercle:
- Glans penis/Glans clitoris
- Corpus cavernosum, spongiosum/ Vestibular bulbs
Urogenital sinus:
- Bulbourethral glands (of Cowper)/Greater vestibular glands (Bartholin)
- Prostate gland/ Skene’s glands
Urogenital folds:
- Ventral shaft of penis (urethra)/ Labia minora (vaginal vestibule)
Labioscrotal swelling:
- Scrotum/Labia majora
