Embryology and Development 1 Flashcards
Another name for sex cells and the organs that produce them
gametes, gonads
Describe process of egg release during menstrual cycle
~14 days after menstruation begins
- 1 ovary matures a female gamete cell (SECONDARY OOCYTE) and releases it (ovulation)
- swept into UTERINE (fallopian) tube
- enters enlarged site called AMPULLA where fertilization occurs
What is a female gamete cell called? Why is it called that?
Secondary oocyte
- secondary because the gamete has not undergone its second meiotic division
Describe sperm journey to egg
- propelled by flagella through vagina until the uterus, where contractions help push. Contractions stimulated by semen and hormones released during intercourse. Sperm continues until it meet the egg at the ampulla.
How many sperm actually make it to the egg? why is that?
1-200/20 million
crazy!
can’t make it because some sperm have bad motility (can’t swim) or female reproductive system pH kills them
window for fertilization
egg only viable for 24 hours, sperm viable up to 6 days
window = 6 days before, 1 day after
3 Prenatal Development periods (from conception to birth)
GERMINAL period: first 2 weeks of development
EMBRYONIC period: week 3-8; organ systems develop (we can call it an embryo here!)
FETAL period: week 9-birth; organ systems grow and mature
terminology for timing of developmental events (how do we know how far along someone is)
- Clinical/medical events: date since last menstrual period (clinical age of unborn child)
- Embryologists: post ovulatory age (aprx. 14 days less than clinical age)
Why is the clinical age of the unborn child about ___ days more than the post ovulatory age?
clinical events timed from start of menstrual period whereas post-ovulatory age is timed from the start of fertilization (day 14 of menstrual cycle)
describe structure of the oocyte
- nucleus
- first polar body (only 1 because hasn’t undergone 2nd division)
layers of protection - ZONA PELLUCIDA (thin layer against membrane)
- CORONA RADIATA (loosely packed follicular cells left over from when cell was in the ovary)
How do sperm pass into the oocyte?
- weave through corona radiata
- acrosome (head) of sperm binds onto ZP3 GLYCOPROTEIN (“sperm receptors”) on zona pellucida, casuing ACROSOMAL REACTION
- leads to digestion of zona pellucida via enzymes from acrosome
need many sperm to break down zona pellucida, but only one will make it through
Why are centaurs and human goats impossible in nature?
well you see…
ZP3 glycoproteins on the zona pellucida are species specific, so non-human sperm can’t pass into the egg (oocyte)
Explain steps of fertilization
- Many sperm penetrate corona radiata
- Acrosome (head of sperm) binds to ZP3 receptor in zona pellucida causing ACROSOMAL REACTION. Leads to digestion of zona pellucida
- ONE sperm gets into plasma and binds to INTEGRIN alpha6beta1, causing depolarization (FAST BLOCK TO POLYSPERMY). The successful sperm enters oocyte
- Female nucleus undergoes 2nd meiotic division (forms ovum and 2nd polar body)
- Female pronucleus and male pronucleus form (male and female genetic code)
- Fusion of haploid pronuclei produces single nucleus - a ZYGOTE (diploid)
Term for when sperm shocks and kills all other sperm when it reaches the plasma membrane. How does this happen?
FAST BLOCK TO POLYSPERMY
(say no no to more sperm)
Sperm binds to integrin alpha6beta1 in oocyte plasma and quickly depolarizes cell, killing other sperm around it.
What stops multiple sperm from fertilizing the oocyte? 2 methods
Fast block to polyspermy
- depolarization
Slow block to polyspermy
- intracellular release of Ca2+
- Ca out, water also moves out
- fluid out, so oocyte shrinks, zona pellucida denatures
- ZP3 becomes inactive!