IMMS embryology Flashcards
At the end of Week 8 what happens to the embryo?
It becomes a foetus
The kidney, liver, brain and lungs are all beginning to function.
Fingers and toes are separate and the external genitalia are formed
What is the function of the Fallopian tube? (Uterine tube)
Allows the passage of the egg from the ovary to the uterus
What are the different parts of the Fallopian tube?
Infundibulum- With its associated fimbriae are near the ovaries
Ampulla- Widest part of the tube, represents major portion of the lateral tube
Isthmus- Narrower part of the tube that links to the uterus
Intramural part (interstitial part)- transverses the uterine musculature
Tubal ostium- Point where the tubal canal meet the peritoneal cavity
Uterine opening- Entrance to the uterine cavity, the utero-tubal junction
Ovulation and fertilisation process in females
With each ovarian cycle, a number of primary follicles begin to grow, but usually one (the dominant follicle) reaches full maturity, and only one oocyte is discharged at ovulation
Ovulation is inducted through a surge in the leutenizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland
Tubal fibriae, carry the oocyte into the uterine tube through its sweeping action
Fertilisation takes place in the fallopian tube, at the junction of the ampulla and the isthmus (the ampullary-isthmic junction)
What is the length of a pregnancy?
280 days (40 weeks or 9 months) after the onset of the last normal menstruation period
More precisely 266 (38 weeks) after fertilisation
Fertilisation takes place on day 15 following the onset of the last normal menstrual cycle
From the time of fertilisation to the end of the 8th week is called the embryonic period
From the beginning of the 9th week to birth is known as the fetal period
Changes during embryonic period?
The 1st week - Fertilisation and formation of the blastocyst [F for first = fertilisation]
The 2nd week - Implantation and formation of bilaminar embryonic disc [2nd week = 2 = bilaminar]
The 3rd week - Further development of the embryo and formation of trilaminar embryonic disc [3rd week = 3 = trilaminar]
The 4th week - Folding of the embryo [F for 4th = F for folding]
The 5th - end of 8th week - Development of all organs
End of 8th week - all organs have developed and the embryo looks like an adult and is called a foetus
What is the function of the male reproductive system?
Produce, maintain and transport the sperm and semen
Discharge sperms within the female reproductive tract during sex
Produce and secrete male sex hormones
Process of fertilisation?
Union of male and female reproductive cells (gametes) to produce a fertilised reproductive cell (zygote)
Results of fertilisation:
- Restoration of diploid number of chromosomes
- Determination of chromosomal sex
- Initiation of cleavage/division of cells
The fertilised ovum, a zygote will undergo rapid mitotic divisions i.e. 2-cell, 8-cell and a 16-cell morula
As the morula enters the uterus on the 3rd or 4th day after fertilisation, a cavity begins to appear and the blastocyst forms
Implanatation of the blastocyst in the endometrial stroma of the uterine wall occurs at the end of the 1st week
By the end of the 2nd week, the blastocyst is completely embedded
The blastocyst implants in the endometrium along the anterior or posterior wall (the uterus at the time of implantation is the secretory phase)
Morula (16 cells), enters the uterine cavity on day 3 or 4 —> Blastocyst (32 cells) —> penetrates uterine wall on day 8
Cilia in the fallopian tube beat ovum towards the uterus
At the end of the 2nd week the endometrium wall has surrounded the embryo
The cells of the blastocyst differentiate into two cell masses:
- Inner cell mass, called the embryoblast at one pole, it develops into the embryo proper and the blastocyst cavity
- Outer cell mas, call the trophoblast, the cells surround the embryoblast
The embryoblast (inner cell mass (ICM) goes on to differentiation into two layers:
* Epiblast
*Hypoblast
(the two layers form a flat disc- bilaminar disc)
What does the epiblast give rise to?
Amnioblasts that line the amniotic cavity superior to the epiblast layer
What does the hypoblast give rise to?
Gives rise to cells that line the blastocyst cavity and the inner surface of the trophoblast
Cells that originate from the hypoblast and line the blastocyst cavity and the inner surface of the tropoblast form the exocoelmic membrane (primitive yolk sac)
What does the trophoblast differentiate into?
Cytrophoblast
Synctiotrophoblast (outer layer that erodes maternal tissue)
What happens by day 8?
Lacunae develop in the syncytiotrophoblast resulting in the maternal sinusoids (vessels) to be eroded meaning maternal blood can enter the lacunar network and a primitive utero-placental circulation is established
A new population of cells appear between the inner surface of the cytotrophoblast and the outer surface of the exocoelomic membrane of the primitive yolk sac
These cells, derived from yolk sac cells form a fine, loose connective tissue the extraembryonic mesoderm
What is the extraembryonic mesoderm? (chorionic plate)
Eventually fills all of the space between the cytotrophoblast and exocoelomic membrane
Large cavities develop in the extraembryonic mesoderm forming a new space called the extraembryonic cavity or chorionic cavity
The extraembryonic mesoderm forms two layers:
- Splanchnopleuric (splanchnic or
visceral) layer - Somatopleuric (somatic or parietal) layer
THE EXTRAEMBRYONIC MESODERM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FORMATION OF THE BLOOD VESSELS THAT WILL CONNECT THE EMBRYO TO THE PLACENTA
The extraembryonic mesoderm looks and acts just like the embryonic mesoderm but found outside of the embryo
Hypoblast?
Forms additional new cells that migrate along the inside of the exocoelomic membrane, they proliferate gradually and form a new cavity within the primitive yolk sac - these are the ENDODERMAL CELLS
This new cavity is knows as the secondary yolk sac (definitive yolk sac), it replaces the primative yolk sac
Trophoblast?
On further development of the trophoblast, the connecting stalk appears
The connecting stalk contains capillaries which are connected to the chorionic plate (extraembryonic mesoderm) and the embryo