Human bio: embryology Flashcards
zygote
pronuclei = maternal.
embryogenesis lecture 1 learning objectives
- Know the cellular contributions of female and male gametes to the fertilised ovum
- Describe the processes of cleavage, blastocyst formation and implantation
- Describe the main characteristics of embryonic development during weeks 1 and 2
- Describe the extraembryonic structures and their functions during early pregnancy
You need to know the developmental events that occur during “weeks”
Note: processes are continuous - demarcation of weeks is for convenience
Days are shown in images to allow for comparison of different views and processes
You do not need to know “days”
week 1 of embryogenesis
Week 1 (Days 0 - 6) = fertilization, formation of the 1 “layered” embryo & start of implantation
week 2 of embryogenesis
Week 2 (Days 7 - 13) = formation of the bilaminar embryo (2 layers), body stalk, cavities, completion of implantation, beginning of placental development (Lecture 2)
zygote definition
Zygote = fertilized egg; single cell stage lasts for ~ 24 hours
embryo definition
Embryo = from the first mitotic (cleavage) division
fetus definition
Fetus = once all of the main body
parts are recognisable ~ 8 weeks
formation of the zygote
After fertilization spermatozoon moves close to the female pronucleus,
its nucleus swells to form the male pronuclei (tail detaches & degenerates)
Male & female pronuclei come into contact & lose nuclear membranes
Male + female pronuclei = 46
chromosomes - single strands of DNA
For the embryo to grow - mitosis
BUT
Each pronucleus must undergo DNA synthesis before mitosis can
After DNA synthesis = 46 chromosomes - double strands of DNA
joined by a centromere (sister chromatids)
Male and female pronuclei lose their nuclear membranes
Mitosis proceeds to form 2 cells = cleavage
Cellular contributions of the ovum to the zygote:
Cellular contributions of the ovum to the zygote:
- 23 maternal chromosomes (single strands of DNA)
- Cell membrane
- Cytoplasm
- Most organelles (mitochondria)
Cellular contributions of the sperm to the zygote:
Cellular contributions of the sperm to the zygote:
- 23 paternal chromosomes (single strands of DNA)
- Centrioles (form mitotic spindles)
- critical to bringing maternal and paternal chromosomes together in the zygote (sperm microtubule organising centre)
- critical for the first mitotic (cleavage)
division in the zygote
In what ways can blastomeres reorganise from the 8 cell stage.
From 8 cell stage blastomeres reorganise into:
“inner” (embryoblast) and
“outer” (trophoblast) cells
Tropho-= nourishment; Blast = germ, sprout, bud
what is the morula
Morula (mulberry) = 16-32 cells
Trophoblast cells bring in Na+ (via active transport),
H,0 follows via osmosis to create a fluid filled cavity, the blastocyst cavity (= blastocoele)
-coele = cavity
-cyst = bladder
Blastocyst enzymatically bores its way through zona pellucida to “hatch”
eight cells to hatching
The zona pellucida gets thinner as the blastocyst cavity expands
Zona pellucida close to or over the embryoblast disintegrates to allow for hatching to occur
Embryoblast = Inner Cell Mass
when does implantation start?
Beginning of Week 2
Day 6
Implantation = result of both trophoblastic and endometrial interaction
Red cells = future cranial end of embryo
Early blastocyst stage, embryoblast cells differentiate into different cell types
Near time of implantation, cell types form two distinct layers
Day 7
Bilaminar embryo:
Epiblast (blue) = dorsal layer
Hypoblast (yellow) = ventral layer
(facing blastocyst cavity)
Trophoblast cells over the embryoblast penetrate endometrial epithelium rapidly differentiating into:
(i) Cytotrophoblast (single inner layer) &
(ii) Syncytiotrophoblast
(multinucleate invasive outer layer)
Epi - above; Hypo - below; Cyto - cell; Syn - together
Implantation continued & Bilaminar (2 layered) Embryo
8 days - bilaminar embryo is implanting
Syncytiotrophoblast develops from cytotrophoblast and erodes endometrium
10 days - bilaminar embryo is fully implanted
Extraembryonic mesoderm develops (placental development)
Syncytiotrophoblast erodes endometrial glands & blood vessels to create a lacunar network (lacuna = lake, pool)
Embryo is small enough to be nourished via diffusion
Chorionic Cavity & Yolk Sac Development (4)
12 days
Spaces appear in extraembryonic mesoderm = early formation of a new cavity, the chorionic cavity
13 days
Chorionic cavity develops rapidly
Primary yolk sac starts to be replaced by the secondary (definitive) yolk sac
14 days
Secondary yolk sac development is complete
Connecting stalk develops
end of week 2 (4)
Connecting stalk (body stalk) has developed from extraembryonic mesoderm
Connecting stalk eventually becomes part of the umbilical cord
It suspends the bilaminar embryo, amniotic cavity and definitive yolk sac (all covered by extra-embryonic mesoderm) in the hugely expanded chorionic cavity
Chorionic cavity = space for embryonic growth;
fuses with the amniotic cavity between weeks 14-16
Amniotic cavity (will get bigger during development):
* Protection
* Freedom of movement
* Space for growth
Definitive yolk sac:
- Contributes to formation of the
digestive tract - Future gametes
- Site of production of first blood cells
what happens to ectopic pregnancies
seldom go to term
ektopos means
out of place
lecture 2 learning objectives
- Describe the formation of the trilaminar embryo
= 3 germ layers that give rise to all tissues & organs (Week 3 = 14 - 20 days)
- Describe the early formation of placental development (up to the end of Week 3)
- Describe the development of the future nervous system (Week 4 = 21-27 days)
Beginning of Week 3 - the Primitive Streak (4)
Directional Terms in Developing Embryo are equivalent to those used in quadrupeds.
- Dorsal surface = epiblast
- Ventral surface = hypoblast (not anterior and posterior)
- Caudal (tail) end
= towards the primitive streak - Cranial end (cephalic / rostral)
(not superior and inferior)
Gastrulation - formation of the trilaminar embryo (4)
3 Germ layers formed in Week 3:
- ectoderm
- intra-embryonic mesoderm
- endoderm.
Germ layers give rise to all tissues and organs
No propy
14-15 days
Endoderm
16 days
Mesoderm
Definitive endoderm
Epiblast
Mesoderm
Endoderm
2 regions with absence of intra-embryonic mesoderm
Oropharyngeal
membrane
= future opening for mouth
Cloacal membrane = future opening for urethra, vagina & anus
Epiblast
Endoderm
the formation of the notochord
Day 16 - Primitive streak = half the length of the embryo
As gastrulation proceeds, becomes shorter relative to the rapidly growing embryonic disc
Day 22 - primitive streak = 10-20% of embryo’s length
Day 26 = seems to disappear
As the primitive streak gets smaller, a midline structure called the notochord develops from mesoderm
Notochord is critical to nervous system & somite (intra-embryonic mesoderm) development
Note: embryo and extra-embryonic structures
Note the position of where heart development begins
what is the allantois (4)
The Allantois
Allantois etymology = sausage-shaped
Appears Day 16 as a small outpouching from caudal wall of the yolk sac (landmark feature
Projects into the connecting stalk
In birds serves as a respiratory organ and a repository for excreta
In humans allantois blood vessels give rise to Umbilical arteries & vein (of the umbilical cord)