Embryology Flashcards
What are the three embryological periods and time frames
Pre-embryonic: conception - week 2
Embryonic: week 2 - 8
Fetal: week 9 - birth
Process of oogenesis
Primordial germ cells arise from wall of yolk sac during week 2
Migrate to occupy gonadal ridges week 6
Undergo rapid mitotic division
Differentiate into oogonia and then primary oocytes and rapidly multiply in the embryonic ovary until the 5th month (7 mil in number), then undergo atresia
At birth, the primary oocytes enter prophase 1 (1st meiotic division) and remain in diplotene phase until puberty
At puberty, the follicular cells become stratified, forming layer of granulosa cells
Granulosa cells secrete glycoprotein layer and CT cells condense to form theca follicle, which differentiates into the inner vascular and secretory layer (theca internal), and the outer fibrous layer (theca externalities)
What causes meiotic arrest
Oocyte Maturation Inhibitor (OMI) produced by the follicular cells of the primary follicle
Process of spermatogenesis
Spermatogonia form in the fetal period and remain dormant in the seminiferous tubules until puberty
5 steps of fertilization
- Sperm activation and penetration of corona radiata
- Attachment to zona and penetration of zona pellucida
- Fusion of oocyte and sperm cell membranes
- Completion of meiosis in oocyte and formation of pronuclei
- Formation of zygote
Process of sperm activation
In order to become active, sperm must undergo capacitation
- Removal of glycoprotein and cholesterol of the ayrosomal membrane by secretions from the cervix and uterine tube. Must happen before sperm reaches distal tube.
How does the sperm penetrate the corona radiata
Viable sperm come in contact with the C.R and surround it. They then undergo an acrosomal reaction and release enzyme hyaluronidase which is needed to penetrate the CR
What enzymes are required to penetrate the zona pellucida
Esterases, neuraminidase, acrosin
What is the zona reaction
Once a sperm binds the zona, it initiates the zona reaction, whereby the zona changes its physical properties to prevent attachment of other sperm. Done through the action of lysosomal enzymes into a space between the zona and oocyte cell membrane
When does the oocyte complete meiosis
Once the sperm has entered, the oocyte completes its 2nd meiotic division to produce a mature oocyte and a second polar body.
Explain the process of cleavage
Series of rapid mitotic cell divisions by which the single cell zygote becomes the 16 cell stage embryo, in 3/7
What is the blastocyst
The embryological stage after morula formation, where blastomere cells arrange to form an outer blastocyst containing a fluid-filled blastocoele in the centre. Formed by day 4-5
Describe the maturation of the blastocyst in the second week of embryological development
Embryo partly implants in the endometrium, which initiates decidualisation
Trophoblast differentiates into the inner layer, the cytotrophoblast, and the outer layer, the syncytiotrophoblast. The ST is more extensive and invasive and invades into the endometrium.
The blastocyst differentiates into the epiblast and the hypoblast (bilaminar disc). Cavity develops in the epiblast –> amniotic cavity, and in the hypoblast –> primary yolk sac
By D12, lacunae appear in the ST which communicate with maternal sinusoids. Extra-embryonic coelom develops between the exocoelomic membrane and the CT. Completely surrounds embryo except for connecting stalk.
By day 13, the CT has formed primary chorionic villi.
By the end of the second week, ST is producing HCG to maintain the pregnancy
What is the function of the primary yolk sac
To provide nutrition via diffusion until the placenta is formed and functional
What is gastrulation
The process whereby the bilaminar embryonic disc becomes trilaminar
Describe the process of gastrulation
Primitive streak and node appear on the epiblast/ ectoderm during the 3rd week.
Ectodermal cells migrate toward the streak, then detach from it spreading out laterally beneath it. This forms the third germ layer, the intra-embryonic mesoderm.
At what points are there no mesoderm?
- At the prochordal plate, which becomes the buccopharyngeal membrane, which breaks down by week 4 to allow communication between the gut tube and the amniotic cavity.
- At the cloacal plate, which becomes the cloacal membrane
How does the notochord form and what does it become
The notochord is a cylindrical structure that develops from the ectoderm. Cells of the primitive node migrate cranially toward the buccopharyngeal membrane, forming the notochord plate. This folds inwards, forming the notochord. The notochord underlies the future neural tube and forms both the long axis of the embryo, and becomes the nuclei pulps of the intervertebral discs of the vertebral column
What is neurulation
The process of the formation of the brain and spinal cord
Describe the process of neurulation
Ectoderm gives rise to neuroectoderm –> most major components of the CNS
D19: notochord induces overlying ectoderm which thickens to form neural plate. Neural plate begins to invaginate, forming neural folds. The plate continues to deepen forming the neural groove, which fuses to form the neural tube.
What are the neuropores and when do they close
They are the cranial and caudal ends of the neural tube that remain open after the neural tube fuses.
They close at day 25 and 27 respectively
Where are the neural crest cells formed and where do they migrate to
At the edges of the neural tube, where the neuroectoderm is continuous with the surface ectoderm, the neural crest cells are formed. Before the neural groove fuses to form the NT, the crest cells detach and form aggregates alongside the neural tube
Three divisions of the mesoderm and their derivatives
Paraxial mesoderm - Skeletal muscle trunk and limbs -Skeleton (except the skull) - Dermis and connective tissue Intermediate mesoderm - Urogenital system Lateral plate mesoderm - Serous membranes -SM and CT - Viscera
Divisions and contributions of the ectoderm
Surface ectoderm - Epidermis - Tooth enamel - Lens - Inner ear Neural tube - CNS - Retina - Post pituitary Neural crest - Cranial and sensory ganglia - Adrenal medulla -facial bones - melanocytes
Describe the process of mesoderm development
Mesoderm cells proliferate on either side of the notochord
by D17, it is thickest closest to the midline –> paraxial mesoderm.
by D19, clefts appear in the lateral plate, which is continuous with the extra-embryonic mesoderm covering the yolk sac and amniotic cavity. The mesoderm around the A.S. is the parietal or somatic layer, and that around the yolk sac is the visceral or splanchnic. Extra-embryonic mesoderm has diverging limbs on either side which open into the extra-embryonic coelom. Clefts within the lateral plate merge to form the intra-embryonic coelom, which is the forerunner for the serous cavities.
Development of the paraxial mesoderm
Undergoes differentiation in paired blocks of tissue (somites) in craniocaudal direction.
First pair of somites appears on D20, then appear at a rate of 3/day until 42-44 pairs.
By beginning of the 4th week, the somites beefing to differentiate.
Development of the somites
Medially placed mesenchymal cells of the somites migrate toward the notochord to form sclerotomes, which later form bone and cartilage. (week 4)
Ventrolateral cells of the somites become myotomes, and the remaining become dermatomes
Myotomes spilt into dorsal epimeres and ventral hypomeres. Dorsal epimeres become the epaxial muscles (erector spinae). Ventral hypomeres form hypaxial muscles (muscles of the body wall).
Remaining venterolateral parts of somites near the future limb buds migrate to differentiate into the limb musculature.
Dermatomes form dermis of the skin
As dermatomes and myotomes migrate, they take the innervation from the adjacent neural tube with them.
Endoderm development and derivatives
Endodermal gut tube formation relies on lateral and longitudinal folding of the embryo
Endoderm gives rise to the lining of the GIT and rest tract, as well as the parenchymal cells of the liver and pancreas, thyroid and parathyroid and the lining of the urinary bladder.
Describe folding of the embryo
2 directions: longitudinal and lateral
Longitudinal occurs from D21-24 . It is due to the rapid enlargement of the cranial end of the neural tube to form the brain. Results in the head and tail section being brought together. Causes the endoderm to form a tube like structure, which initially has a large communication with the yolk sac but narrows as the longitudinal folding increases.
Lateral folding is due to the enlarging somites.
Three components of the urinary system development, time frames
Pronephros - appears at week 4 - rudimentary and never functional
Mesonephros - appears at week 4 - functions from week 6 - 10, then disappears
Metanephros - appears from week 4/5 - functions from week 12
Key points in gonadal formation
Primordial germ cells develop in the endodermal yolk sac - W4
Germ cells migrate to mesodermal endothelium - W5
Gonads remain indifferent - W6
Leydig cells produce testosterone - W8
Secondary cortical/sex cords form - W10-12
Primordial follicles form - W16
What is the origin of the urogenital system
Intermediate mesoderm
What is the urogenital ridge and where does it form
It is a longitudinal elevation of the intermediate mesoderm that forms on either side of the aorta
What are the two parts of the urogenital ridge
Nephrogenic cord, which develops into the urinary system
Gonadal ridge, which develops in to the genital system
What is the pronephros
A rudimentary and non-functional excretory organ that appears in the cervical region at week 4.
All elements disappear 1/52 after they appear
What is the mesonephros
Intermediate excretory organ that forms at week4, functions from week 6-10, then disappears by end week 10.
Originates between the upper thoracic and upper lumbar segments
Forms excretory tubules that lengthen and acquire a capillary tuft. The tubules adjacent to the tuft differentiate into the Bowman’s capsule, and those laterally open into the wolffian duct.
The tubules then degenerate, but the wolffian duct persists and participates in the formation fo the genital system in males.
What is the ureteric bud and what does it become
The ureteric bud is an outgrowth of the mesonephric duct, near to its entrance on the cloaca
The stalk of the bud forms the ureter and the expanded part forms the renal calyx.
What is the metanephron
The embryonic kidney which forms the permanent kidney
Appears in week5, functions from w12.
Excretory units develop from metanephric mesoderm, with collecting ducts forming from the ureteric bud.
Each collecting tubule is covered at the distal end by the metanephric tissue cap
Mesoderm adjacent to the collecting tubule forms metanephric vesicles which become renal tubules, and acquire a tuft of capillaries that forms the glomerulus.
What controls kidney formation
Proteins RET, GDNF and GFRA1
RET: Rearranged during transfection protooncogene
GDNF: giant cell line-derived neutrophilic factor
GFRA1: GDNF familia receptor alpha 1
Glomerular integrity relies on signalling between which 3 major cell lineages
Podocytes, endothelial cells and mesangial cells.
How does the kidneys position change
Initially develops in the pelvic region, then ascends cranially due to the differential growth between the lumbar and sacral regions.
As the kidney ascends, it rotates 90 degrees.
It derives its blood supply from the aorta in its final position and the lower vessels disappear
Development of the bladder
At week4, cloaca is decided into urogenital sinus anteriorly and anal canal posteriorly by the urogenital septum (mesodermal layer, whose tip forms the perineal body)
Cranial part of the urogenital sinus becomes the bladder, which is continuous with the allantois, the urachus forms and later obliterates to form the medial umbilical ligament
As the cloaca differentiates, the caudal portions of the mesonephric ducts are absorbed into the bladder wall.
What are the 3 parts of the developing urogenital sinus
Cranial end becomes the bladder
Narrower middle pelvic part forms the whole urethra in females, and the prostatic and membranous urethra in males
The caudal or phallic part forms the genital organs
Process of undifferentiated gonadal development
In week 4, there forms a thickened area of mesothelium on the medial side of the mesonephros Initially appears as a pair of longitudinal ridges (the genital or gonadal ridges) and remain indifferent until week 7 Gonadal cords (finger-like epithelial cords) grow into the underlying mesenchyme dividing the ridge into external cortex and internal medulla Primordial germ cells from the yolk sac migrate along the dorsal mesentery and invade the gonadal ridges in week 6
What is SRY and where is it located
Sex determining region on the Y chromosome, on the short arm, Yp11.